Medical appointments are often a huge component of a caregiver’s life, the impact spanning far beyond the time spent with the provider. In this episode, Justin and Allison discuss all that goes into preparing for, living through, and recovering from appointments from a caregiver perspective.
Susan Silk created "The Ring Theory" as a way to guide people who are supporting someone in a crisis. In this episode, Allison and Justin discuss how this model of "Comfort In, Dump Out" applies to caregiving.
As caregivers, we have a front row seat to the suffering of our loved ones. We are often the only people who see them in their hardest moments. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about what that’s like, the impact it has on them, and how supporters can help.
When our loved one's days are numbered or their good days are few and far between, we can feel like we need to complete bucket lists or that we must make the most of every moment. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about how that pressure shows up in their lives and what they do about it.
Caregivers, like any of us, can fall into the trap of comparing themselves to others. Whether it’s comparing the severity, length, or type of caregiving they are doing with someone else, comparing their own struggles with that of the person for whom they are caring, or comparing their lives to their non-caregiving peers, these thoughts can creep in and keep caregivers from sharing their stories and getting support. Listen in as Allison and Justin talk about the variety of ways comparison can show up and how supporters can help.
Allison and Justin talk about how caregivers need community care in order to practice self care, how they each practice acts of micro-care throughout the day, and what supporters can do and say instead of, “Are you taking care of yourself?”