Caring for Caregivers

Thankfully, I have not been sick this year so far! I attribute it to excellent caregiving, answers to prayer, and intentional healthy choices about sleep, exercise, breathing, and eating. I make sure to eat a balanced array of vegetables and fruits, proteins and grains each week, in addition to taking multivitamins, probiotics, elderberry supplements, colostrum, and water. My friendship caregivers do a great job of helping me maintain this healthy lifestyle. 

But having 20-30 different helpers means that inevitably at least one person is usually sick! I'll get a call or text saying: "I have a cough/sniffles/sore throat today. Do you still want me to come?" It's taken me a while to come up with a good response to that... See, I am not a germaphobe or hypersensitive about stuff like that, so as long as a person isn't actively throwing up or running a fever, I am fine with them being here. Plus, I still will need help, so if one person can't come, I need some time to find a sub, which is not easy. 

Then I wonder if the question is for my sake or the helper? Maybe they feel worse than they are letting on, and they need permission to stay home and rest. And enough of my friends have seen me really sick, that I know they don't want to be the one to get me sick again. So, I usually say, "If it would make you feel more comfortable, wear a mask while we're in close proximity. If you need the rest, please stay home and rest." 

I know life happens, germs get spread, and people get sick, and really there is only so much you can do about that. But there are things we can do, so let's do what we can! If you are caring for someone who is smaller, younger, weaker, or older than you, please take vitamins and supplements to build your own strong body and immune system; choose to eat well and sleep well; for heaven's sake, do NOT smoke! And make time to get even a little exercise and find hobbies that are life-giving and good for your mind and body. The more you care for yourself, the better you can care for others. 

And friends who are receiving caregiving, please recognize your responsibility to care for your caregivers, too. If they are sick or in pain or going through an especially difficult circumstance, ask other people to step in and help more so that person can rest and heal and have space and time to focus on what needs to be done in their life. Send them notes or small gifts of appreciation or order them a grocery delivery or a meal to their house (UberEats is awesome!). Realize that you are not the only person in this relationship that needs love and care, and there are thoughtful things you can do to make a difference.

I want my caregivers to be healthy for their own sake, to be able to work and play and serve and rest hard, to live life fully and love deeply, to be as strong and active as possible, for as long as possible. Because this not only makes them great human beings, but it also happens to make them great caregivers, too! 

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