Caregiver, Stress & Coronavirus

By : Donna | 2 Comments | On : March 17, 2020 | Category : Blogging, caregiver, Everyday Life, Short Stories

Caregiver:

The role of Caregivers takes on every precaution available before viruses and such enter their environments. As I sit at my desk this evening with the fragrance of chicken soup in the air, I begin to think about caregivers around the world. Caregivers are usually people who have experienced Role-Reversal. I have taken on the Role-Reversal position several times in my fifty-three years.

Role-Reversal At Young Age:

Grab a warm drink and let me tell you a story; about a 12-year-old girl with two younger siblings waiting by the phone in a house with no TV or radio blasting. Information rather her mother survived a 10-hour surgery with a 50/50 chance of survival. This same young lady takes on the role of helping her father, teach her mother how to walk and write her name. So first Role-Reversal for this woman was a teacher for her mother.

It took mom an entire year to get back on her feet and actually return to work. During that year my siblings and I learned how to cook and clean to keep the home as maintained as our German mom. Second Role-Reversale for this woman was giving encouragement and guidance to her siblings sometimes not as good as a mom although mom was very proud of her adult children.

Here we are several years later and this woman is a caregiver for The Man in the Chair. Although the man in the chair is still a good provider through retirement funds, other roles have changed. This is where the next Role-Reversal comes to play. This Role-Reversal is similar to being the husband without stepping on the husband’s toes. Keeping track of bills, house maintenance, vehicle maintenance, and his health along with mine can cause more Stress than a caregiver can even express.

Stress:

The biggest caregiver stress is walking on egg-shells almost daily for some weeks. Eggshells due to he is stuck in the chair and does not see the prices in the store. Or eggshells due to the fact that the pharmacy or dr. office messed up a prescription and his anxiety of running out skyrockets. Anxiety is very high for a person with breathing issues. Walking on eggshells is a real thing for several caregivers in this world.

Coronavirus:

Now for Coronavirus and Caregiving, I am not one who panics and no I did not go out and buy everything available in the stores. I always buy two weeks of supplies to prevent going out in crowds. We have warned my adult children there will come a time I will not leave the condo to often. I am prepared to call the dr for help if I get sick or if he gets worse. I have worked in the food industry for many years so good hygiene is a priority always. Please be patient and vigilant ask for help even if it is a good listening ear.

Conclusion:

Caregivers take on all sorts of Role-Reversals

• Teacher
• Parent
• Spouse

If you are a caregiver you live with more stress than they share

The role of Caregivers takes on every precaution available before viruses and such enter their environments.