Theresa Wilbanks Helps Caregivers Navigate the Caregiver River

Apr 05, 2023 11:01 am

Hello ,

Caring for a loved one can come on suddenly, as many of us have discovered, without warning or preparation. I am fresh off my own caregiving journey, which started just after Christmas, with no warning or preparation, and ended on March 14th, again with no warning or preparation. I always knew I might one day become a caregiver to my mother-in-law, age 95 at her passing and living independently until she came to stay with my family after two falls on the same day. At first, it was easy. She was no work and little worry, more of a housemate than someone who needed care. But this soon became a slippery slope as she fell very ill, very fast. My 30 years experience as a registered nurse and past caregiving was of little help. I soon found myself floundering as my responsibilities grew, and I felt hopeless watching her fail. This magnified the fact that caregiving, no matter the reason, is hard, and heartbreaking.

My m-i-l herself had her own caregiver journey with her mother, who had Alzheimer's and eventually went into long-term care. She also watched as her sister succumbed to the disease. My work with AlzAuthors fascinated her, and she loved to sit beside me while I wrote blog posts, edited podcasts, and responded to email.

There is now an empty place at my table, and I'm left to absorb and recover from my swift journey on the caregiver river. The support of my friends at AlzAuthors and the solid foundation I've built as a former caregiver sustain me.

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No one is born "knowing" how to be a caregiver. Each journey is different, with its own set of challenges and concerns. Caregivers need guidance and support to be the best caregiver possible while not succumbing to the pressures of their responsibilities. Theresa Wilbanks has created a unique system of caregiver tools for self-care that sprang from her own experience caring for her father. She calls it "Sustainable Caregiving." She teaches caregivers how to handle the twists, turn, ups and downs on the journey, and how to take care of themselves so they not only survive their journeys, but thrive.

She writes:

I come from a family of caregivers, yet when I began caring for Dad, I was unprepared for the suffocating stress and intense overwhelm. In addition to concern about the effect of stress on my health, I worried that I would have significant regret about my relationship with Dad, which seemed to be rapidly deteriorating. I was drowning and desperate to understand why this role was so challenging. Did the caregiver gene skip me? As I delved into the whys, it became clear that it was just hard.

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Let your light shine with an AlzAuthors Candle! Beautifully scented in French Linen to brighten your spirits. Did you know, AlzAuthors Creations can also provide items customized with images of your own book too? Contact Susan through the link below.

Contact AlzAuthors Creations

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Please take time to watch and listen to this video by AlzAuthor, Tony Copeland-Parker and his partner Catherine. Tony and Cat share, with absolute honesty, their journey together and their life long commitment to care for one another.

Click to watch Tony Copeland-Parker's video about caring for the love of his life, Catherine.

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Become a Participant in Alzheimer's Caregiving Studies

Rare Patient Voice connects patients and caregivers to paid medical surveys and studies. They are always looking to grow their panel of participants. They currently have a study for caregivers of loved ones who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Click below to sign up.

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This Week's Reader Raffle Question

Here's your chance to tell us what you think, and what you want and need from us. Enter our monthly Reader Raffle by sending a comment on this email or answering this questions: How do you sustain your own mental health and wellbeing as a caregiver? Hit reply and give us your response. Two or three lines will do. At the end of the month, we’ll compile all the responses and randomly choose a winner who will receive one of the books featured that month. We look forward to hearing from you!

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