This post is sponsored by Depend® Brand. All opinions and statements are my own.
A few weeks ago, I participated in a live virtual event entitled “The Empowered Caregiver.” The free digital experience was hosted by SheKnows, an organization all about helping women care for themselves and their families. Our interactive hour was sponsored by Depend®, who also happens to be one of our Happy Healthy Caregiver Care Champion partners!
We delivered on the event’s purpose, which was to celebrate caregivers everywhere and recognize the meaningful work being done AND share at-home best practices and advice to avoid burnout. The event was emceed by Kat Cosley and kicked off with a live group meditation led by Natalie Valle.
I participated in the panel portion of the event under the theme of Navigating the Role Reversal With Your Parents. The panel was twenty minutes and packed with powerful nuggets and resources to empower caregivers.
Our panel was comprised of:
Panelists: Elizabeth Miller, Ciana Singh & Dr. Jen Caudle
Moderator: Sabrina Rojas Weiss, Parenting Editor, SheKnows
Good news! SheKnows recorded the event so you can watch it from here.
We briefly touched on some of the common issues I see as a coach for family caregivers, including mental and physical overwhelm, feeling isolated, and taking on tasks that you never anticipated. For some, one of those new tasks is dealing with your parents’ incontinence. It’s important to talk openly about the issues and the solutions available. Luckily, there are helpful products like Depend’s FIT-FLEX ® that look and feel like underwear. Designed with Dryshield™ Technology, Depend’s FIT-FLEX® Underwear for Men and Women features fast-absorbing material, ultra-soft fabric, and comfortable leg elastics that are beautifully designed to make your loved one feel comfortable and protected at all times.
Our moderator asked each of the panelists what resources we’d recommend. Dr. Jen mentioned how her family practice offered support to family caregivers and suggested they connect with their local Area on Aging to secure help. Family caregiver Ciana explained how educational online resources offered through the Alzheimer’s Association elevated her confidence in caring for her grandma, who has dementia. I recommended caregivers search online for local support groups because the best advice comes from people who have survived their caregiving journey or are just steps ahead from where you are. I also recommended the services of a local Certified Caregiving Consultant.
We spoke about one of my favorite topics – integrating self-care into each day. Dr. Jen reminded us that we cannot serve others from an empty cup. Ciana shared she gets up an hour before everyone else typically does, so she has some quality time to focus on her own needs. I echoed Ciana’s sentiments by sharing one of my favorite phrases, ‘seize the day before it seizes you!’.
During the event, the chatbox came alive; particularly when we had door prizes to award the attendees. I hope the winners of the Just For You: A Daily Self-Care Journals will enjoy infusing some self-care into their day. Asking for help and sharing the care among family members are two areas where family caregivers need help. All the event participants were invited to use these empowering worksheets: Caregiving Responsibilities and Family Responsibilities.
We also touched on the ugly ‘G’ word – GUILT. As caregivers, the question was how we help make a loved one feel less guilty about accepting our care. Ciana and Dr. Jen were able to address this perspective. However, my experience in caregiving was that I felt guilty for not being enough. Over time, I learned to substitute my feelings of guilt with a different ‘G’ word – GRACE.
After the panel portion concluded, other experts and caregivers were interviewed, including Brandee Evans, who juggles an acting career while caring for her mom, and Dr. Diane Dillon, a seasoned psychologist.
After watching the replay, consider forwarding this post to a friend who is caring for a loved one AND a health professional who works with caregivers. Education and advocacy about caregiving are how we initiate positive change and help to empower others.
