Caregiver support seminars for family caregivers while cruising

Who is a caregiver?

A caregiver is anyone who provides care and support at home or in a care facility to family members or friends who are frail elderly, chronically ill or have a disability. Spouses and children can find themselves providing care and support to a loved one with Alzheimer disease. This may result in feelings of frustration, exhaustion, anger and isolation for the caregiver. These are all natural feelings and can be dealt with in a positive way. Often times, the caregiver is unsure about where to go for help. A caregiver needs to be able to give oneself permission to take time for self.

Apple Pie Story

My mother Shirley is 82 years old; she lives in Indiana; I live in Los Angeles. Although Mother remains vibrant and highly independent, she does have episodes of short term memory.

One rainy Sunday mother calls me up, “Dear, I’m baking an apple pie this morning, how many apples shall I peel?”

Now, I wondered at this, as mother has always been an expert baker. “Well Mother, I think perhaps 6 apples should be sufficient.” A few minutes later the phone rings again. “This is your mother calling, dear. I’m baking an apple pie, and am wondering how long should it remain in the oven?”

I assured Mother of the approximate baking time. I was hardly surprised when the phone rang 45 minutes later. “Dear, do you think the apple pie is ready to come out of the oven? It looks golden brown.”

“Mother, it smells delicious. The aroma of cinnamon is wafting to me over the telephone.”

“Good”, says Mother, “Out it comes from the oven, and I’ve set two plates out; I shall slice us each a piece dear.”

“Lovely!” said I. And Mother and I enjoyed this special moment over a piece of apple pie.

The above story evokes childhood memories all of us have shared with our own mother.

This volume of CruiseRespite Solutions will deal with family caregiver issues. As in the above story, Shirley and her daughter were able to enjoy a special moment. Needless to say, the daughter has her own needs which must be met as well. Caring for persons with dementia can amount to a twenty-four hour day and it is vital that caregivers recognize and meet their own needs as well.