Once a Friend, Always a Friend ...

The value of friendship can never be denied. A good friend is one who shares your interests, is enjoyable to just hang out with and is supportive.

Good friends are extremely important to caregivers looking after a parent/friend/partner. These can be emotionally trying times and caregivers will need to vent to effectively reduce pent up stress. A good friend will be there when needed to provide a few encouraging words or a sympathetic shoulder to cry on.

I well remember one good friend of mine who was there prior to and following my parent's deaths. We had a number of coffees and he allowed me to remember, without passing judgment. Having him there to simply listen in my time of need was immensely helpful.

Caregiving provides you the opportunity to identify your good friends. It can also quickly weed out those individuals who are not your true friends - these will be the people who disappear in your time of need, do not return your phone calls/e-mails and are never available to meet. Granted, caregiving can be a weighty topic, but a good friend will understand.

Remember to thank your friends for helping you ... a card, gift certificate or flowers will be valued. Doing this will illustrate to your friends what they mean to you and how much you appreciate how they have helped you.