“Who do you think of when you think of a caregiver?” Is it an adult daughter caring for a parent? How about a spouse caring for an ailing spouse? Someone may be thinking of parents caring for their disabled child. These are the typical caregivers. There is a growing segment of new caregivers. These are grandparents who are responsible for the care of their grandchildren. The parents may be on military assignments, recovering from illnesses, incarcerated, deceased or any number of other scenarios. Imagine you are about to retire. You are thinking of spending your leisure time as a volunteer or investing in that long-time hobby to turn it into a business. What happens when you are designated or appointed by the courts to be the legal guardian for your grandchildren? This new status may be in addition to caring for another loved one. You are now the daily shuttle driver for carpooling, after school activities, homework assignments and other forms of recreation. The first few weeks or months are manageable. Everyone is making the adjustment. Suddenly, you realize this is a long-term assignment. The homework and projects are continual. There are parent teacher meetings, Friday night football games, debate team, cheerleader drills. The list goes on and on. Where is your energy and enthusiasm? You have been through this before. You actually have children who are the same age or older than some of the parents. Support is available for grandparents who have become the primary caregivers for their grandchildren. If you want someone to listen, someone who understands, who is willing to share, reach out for resources or to a life coach who can assist you with this new lifestyle. Before the next bake sale or candy drive, make that connection to make your life as a caregiver easier. I can help you to ease into
Remember, “Caregivers Need Care Too”.
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