Do you provide care for a friend or relative who is chronically ill and incapable of caring for himself or herself? If so, you are a caregiver. The person you care for may have cancer, a spinal cord injury, dementia multiple sclerosis or some other debilitating affliction. In any case, you are charged with an awesome responsibility that can be overwhelming at times. The constant demands of caring for your loved one means that you are likely dealing with stress and anxiety in your life.
My best friend passed away recently after a very courageous fight against ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. I watched as he slowly lost control of every last bodily function. His family lovingly cared for him with the assistance of a small group of hospice nurses. Because he could do nothing for himself, his caregivers did everything for him, including:
- Communicating – This was difficult because he could not speak
- Changing bed linens
- Lifting and turning him in bed
- Feeding
- Bathing
- Giving medicine
- Moving limbs
- Bedpan duty
- Providing oxygen as needed
- Changing TV channels
- Providing companionship
- Providing emotional support
I watched as my friend’s family helped him with his every need while trying to keep up their own spirits. The demands of providing constant care were extreme and each of the family members experienced moments of acute stress. Even when things were relatively calm, the stress of the long ordeal was evident by their lifeless eyes, their frequent crying, loss of appetite, sleepless nights and lack of energy.
