Fortunately, we are living longer, but that means more of us will need to care for a loved one or be cared for ourselves — and that can be difficult and trying, as many of you know.
For all of you who are caregivers, and the many of us who will be, I want to share “A Caregiver’s Pledge” to remind us how meaningful it is to care for someone, while taking care of ourselves.
A Caregiver’s Pledge
1. I will understand that I can’t care for anyone else if I also don’t care for myself. I will keep an image in my mind of putting the oxygen mask on myself first.
2. I will remember that the only person I can change is myself. I cannot change my loved one who is ill, nor my family members.
3. I will find opportunities to laugh daily. These might come in movies, jokes, television, or with friends who can see the humor in my situation and remind me to do the same.
4. I will get away from my caregiving duties on a regular basis, even if it is just to walk around the block. But I will also find ways to have lunch with a friend, go to a movie, window shop, breathe in fresh air, watch the sunset, or eat a hot fudge sundae.
5. I will visit a support group, either online or in person in my community, so that I know that I am not alone. If a support group isn’t right for me, I will find a friend to talk to, call my family consultant, or attend a workshop (Aging and Disability Resource Connections).
6. I will learn as much as I can about my loved one’s illness so I can better care for him or her with understanding. I will learn techniques that will make caregiving easier for both of us.
7. I will say “yes” when people offer to help. I will make a list of things they can do and post it on the refrigerator, so that when those offers come, I’ll be ready. When there are no offers, I will ask for help, even though it might be hard to do so.
8. I will use community resources: Meals on Wheels, local transit, adult day programs, respite programs — to help make my caregiving duties easier.
9. I will find something I really like to do and make sure I find time to do it regularly. Just because I am a caregiver doesn’t mean I have to give up everything meaningful to me. I will read, knit, garden, scrapbook, do genealogy or woodworking for a designated period of time every week.
10. I will remember that I am loved and appreciated, even when my loved one can’t tell me that. I will honor the nurturing, responsibility, care, and support I provide to my loved one as a gift I give.
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Brain Tease: Here are three decipher puzzles, where you need to find the code or rule to solve the puzzle.
1. OLLEH
2. THS S A DCPHR PZZL
3. GUR DHVPX OEBJA SBK WHZCF BIRE GUR YNML QBT
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The successful Black vocal group of the ‘50s that recorded “Only You” and “The Great Pretender” was the Platters, who many readers still enjoy listening to. I received correct answers from Bruce Johnson, Doug Nelson, Donna Mollet, Judy Kiser, Dave Lutgens, Liz Nichols, Eva Summers, Rhonda Spies, Keith Clymer, Julie Hoffman, Shelley Hinatsu, Tina Castanares, Rebecca Abrams, Mike Monroe, Stephen Woolpert, Mary Zenorini, and Gary Young, who is last week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.
And for this week, the saying “Live long and prosper,” from Star Trek, was said by Leonard Nimoy’s Dr. Spock. And because of the trip to California to visit family, I will catch up next week.
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The 1963 song that began with “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh! was sung and written by Allan Sherman after receiving letters of complaint from his son who was attending summer camp. For this week’s “Remember When” question, in this novelty song, what was the name of the camp the disgruntled boy was attending? Email your answer to www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-980-4645, or send it with a recording of Ponchielli’s “Dance of the Hours,” from the opera La Gioconda, which the melody was based on.
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Well, it’s been another week, proudly showing pictures of my granddaughter. (It’s so easy with a smartphone.) Until we meet again, my self-esteem would be a lot higher if there weren’t any mirrors!
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“The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.”
— Groucho Marx
Answers:
1. Hello.
2. This is a decipher puzzle.
3. The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.
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