By Lillian Flakes, originally published on DifferentDream.com
Do you know what friends every caregiver needs? Today’s guest blogger and special needs mom Lillian Flakes discovered the ones she needed at the beginning of her parenting journey. Today she describes the three friends every caregiver needs, the ones she’s grateful are part of her life.
For the last 13 years, I addressed the medical and cognitive challenges for my daughter, Catherine. She was born with a congenital heart defect and has Down syndrome. After her first surgery, she fell into a stage where she was described as “failure to thrive” and required frequent emergency visits to the hospital, numerous medications and round-the-clock-care. My daily challenges were difficult. Quite frankly, I often felt lonely. I could not have made it through without the help of dear friends.
Since those early days, people shared with me about a close friend or relative who is a primary caregiver and sought my advice on how to help them. I always tell them to help in a way they know they can consistently deliver. From my experiences, I’ve learned that primary caregivers need individuals that fit into certain categories. Here are a few that have served me well over time.
The Prayer Warrior
This person stands in the gap praying constantly for a caregiving friend. My prayer warrior consistently contacted me through text or email three to four times a week. She always asked, “How can I pray for you and your family today?” She would also text scripture or an inspirational broadcast to lift me up. It was helpful to know someone could speak for me in prayer when I sometimes found it difficult to speak for myself.
Read more on DifferentDream.com
For more caregiver advice from Shield HealthCare, see below:
- Webinar Video and Slides: Activities of Daily Living – Tips & Tricks for the Caregiver
- You Know You Are a Family Caregiver When…
- Caregiver Contest Finalist Natalie: Give Yourself Grace
- Aging in Place Considerations
- Why My Husband Was at the Spa on Father’s Day
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