Caregiving can have an enormous impact on the mental and emotional health of a caregiver and therapy is one important tool that can help. However, there are barriers that may cause caregivers to hesitate, despite the benefits. In this episode, Allison and Justin share their own experiences with therapy, describe what may stand in the way of a caregiver accessing therapy, and list some resources that can help.
Some caregivers go through phases in which their loved one's health is a bit more stable. These seasons can leave caregivers wondering if they can still claim that title and can allow some space for reflection. In this episode, Justin talks about what it's been like to be in a quieter season these past few months.
Making plans can feel risky and complex for caregivers, as they find themselves creating contingency plans for all that might go awry before, during, and after the event. All this can lead caregivers to play it safe, deciding that staying home is easier - but at what cost? In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about which way they tend to tip, and the consequences that follow.
For people living with an illness or injury, appointments with medical professionals can feel like important moments to learn more about the prognosis, get access to new treatments, and share concerns about new symptoms. But what happens when those appointments don’t go well? How does that impact caregivers and what, if anything, is their role in following up? In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about their experiences with unpleasant appointments for their spouses, how that felt, and what they did about it.
Most caregivers come into the role without any medical background and yet find themselves performing high stakes tasks and making countless decisions. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about times they did receive training, if it was effective, and where the gaps are in the system.
For a caregiver, the experience of a loved one being hospitalized can involve countless moments of decision-making, symptom tracking, and advocating all while being away from home and while bearing witness to our person’s suffering. Allison recently experienced all of this and more when her husband spent multiple days in the Emergency Room and hospital. In this episode, she shares with Justin what went into the before, during, and after that hospital stay.
Stories of caregiving are becoming more prevalent in both the news and in the entertainment industry. In this episode, Justin and Allison weigh in about how accurately they feel it’s being portrayed and the impact of this type of representation for both caregivers and their supporters.
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.
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season can be especially challenging for caregivers who are already stretched thin and short on time, energy, and finances. In this episode, Allison and Justin discuss the factors that can make this time of year feel particularly hard, what we can do to make it through, and how supporters can help.
When we become caregivers, any illusion we had of being in control in our lives can be lost. We are often unable to control disease progression, our loved one’s pain, and broken systems, just to name a few. This lack of control can make some people cling more tightly to what they have left and can make others let go altogether. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about how they have experienced this lack of control and how supporters can help.