When going through the challenges of caregiving, it’s common for caregivers to struggle to find a safe place to vent. Caregivers may hesitate to share with their loved one, friends may not get it, and some are worried to burden other caregivers with their hard things. Despite all of this, not venting isn’t an option. In this episode, Allison and Justin discuss all of this as well as strategies for both caregivers and supporters.
Caregivers and their families frequently find that well-meaning friends, family, and medical staff show up in ways that do not line up with the needs, wishes, and values of the patient. In these cases, it’s important for the caregiver to establish and enforce boundaries, both for their loved one and for themself, which can be challenging on a number of levels. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about how they feel about setting boundaries, different scenarios in which it may be important to do so, and ways that supporters can help.
When one member of a family has an accident or receives a diagnosis, every person feels the impact. In this episode, Allison and Justin interview Dr. Vaida Kazlauskaite, a medical family therapist, about how we can recognize and care for the needs of every family member.
In January, Allison was with her mother-in-law through her final days on earth. In this episode, she talks about what that was like and shares how the experience of being present during the days of hospice and in the moment of her death has changed her perspective as a caregiver.
Allison and Justin talk about how as caregivers, we aren’t just caring for our spouses, but also navigating how to support the kids in our lives. What and how much do you tell them and how much do you involve them?
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This episode was recorded on May 23, before the murder of George Floyd, which is why this important issue wasn’t discussed. We’ve added an additional note at the end of this episode in which we provide resources connecting today’s topic of talking with children about chronic illness to having conversations with kids about racism. Thanks for listening.