The Blessings of Being a Caregiver

Sounds crazy, doesn't it? Blessings... of being a caregiver?

Yet, believe it or not, there are certain blessings to this 24/7, emotionally-wrenching job. You just have to be open to them. And to recognize them when they occur.

But, first, you have to grieve. Because you can't accept what is until you've allowed yourself to grieve for your loved one. You can't come to the stage of acceptance until you pass the stage of grief.

When you come to the stage of acceptance, you'll allow yourself to open up to some of the small joys you couldn't see before.

The process of grieving, really, consists of a chain of emotions, each one flowing into the next...

Shock at the initial diagnosis, and disbelief.

Emotional Reaction - You'll yell, scream, lose your temper.

Anxiety crops up almost immediately, as you start to worry about the future.

Anger, at your loved one for getting sick. At the doctor. Even at God.

Guilt for feeling these emotions.

The beginning of healing often starts with reflecting upon better days.

Acceptance finally come when you're able to let go of the previous emotions.

Keep in mind, though, that acceptance doesn't mean the total end of grief; you'll still feel it at times. And that's OK. Eventually, you'll come back to acceptance.

Then, you can begin to enjoy being with your loved one again. When you can deal with the reality that you time together may be growing short, you treasure every minute of your time together, and you realize how precious it is.

When you're a caregiver to a loved one with Alzheimer's or Dementia, your life can seem like one series of questions after another. But we can help.

At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we're Elder Law attorneys. We have one of the largest Alzheimer's/Dementia resource centers in South Florida. And, over the past 33 years, we've walked thousands of South Florida families through the Elder Care Journey, with comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care planning, asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid and the VA.

We can walk your family through the Elder Care Journey, too. And we're just a phone call away.