Of all the emotions caregivers experience, anger isn’t one that is spoken of very often. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about why it is that caregivers feel they aren’t able to speak about their anger, triggers that may cause anger to occur, and strategies that may support caregivers as they process these feelings.
Caregivers are weary. In this episode, Justin and Allison discuss some of the reasons, including extra responsibilities, lack of sleep, hypervigilance, and the emotional toll this role takes, as well as some realistic ways to find moments of rest.
There is often confusion around what palliative care is, who it is meant for, and at what stage of life. In this episode, Allison and Justin interview Dr. Drew Rosielle, who provides the history, describes the model, and outlines the goals and benefits of palliative care.
Caregiving can impact our friendships in a variety of ways. Some friends disappear. Others stick around, but disappoint. Others we find and connect with because of our caregiving role. Listen in as Allison and Justin dig into these different types of relationships.
One of the few things we can count on in this life is death and yet our culture is not good at talking about or preparing us for it. In this episode, Justin and Allison speak with Jane Whitlock, an end of life doula and former spousal caregiver, about her role, the stages of death, and the questions we can start asking and conversations we can start having now about this important and inevitable topic.
There’s no question that the life of a caregiver is hard and that feelings of disappointment, comparison, and unfairness can be pervasive. So how do caregivers move through their days as they deal with the weight of it all? In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about how to keep going even when everything is terrible.
When someone in our life has an acute injury or medical situation, it makes sense for us to focus solely on their needs. But when an illness becomes longer-lasting or chronic, caregivers need to find ways to balance the needs of their loved ones with their own. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about why that can be challenging, ways that can look, and what might happen if we don’t.
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.
Aisha Adkins, who cares for both her parents, joins Allison and Justin to talk about her caregiving journey, as well as her work with Caring Across Generations supporting other caregivers.
There are many reasons people may hesitate to claim or use the caregiver title. In this episode, Justin and Allison dig into why that may be as well as talk about the benefits and challenges of doing so.