A Caregiver's View

Looking back and looking ahead, I'm reminded how vulnerable we can be. These are tender times dealing with the ones we care about most. We work hard, we put others first, we manage many different facets of another's life while managing our own.

We love what we do on important levels of caring, despite the trials.

I love my family and friends and the people in my life. They support, they nurture and they're authentic. They matter much.

Jan's Zentangle artistry is a vision of beauty. Take a long look, it's good Zen. 

I'm thinking of you and sending well wishes :-)

Yours Truly,

Carole Brecht 

http://www.thesandwichwoman.com/

https://www.facebook.com/thesandwichwoman
Instagram: @San_Gen_Woman
Twitter: Carole Brecht @SanGenWoman

Copyright 2015

A Caregiver's Respite

I've been a Caregiver for several years now. I haven't had a week's long vacation for a very long time and was anticipating my long weekend away with my girlfriends, this past week. Anticipating is putting it mildly. I was counting the days for the last couple of months. I needed some time to "get away from it all," to process my Mom's passing and allow myself to be "off the clock."

The subject matter of caregiving is a serious one. I like to make it a point to share something positive in my blog, end on a light, encouraging note and sometimes have a challenge finding a way to say what I write without being so intense. That is not a simple matter often times because aging, illness and death are not the most pleasant thing to write about. There are times I wish I had more good news to write about in my blogs. I thought sharing some pictures of my long weekend (Thursday-Monday) would be a nice change for this week's blog. I hope you enjoy! (Click on the images to enlarge)

Good Humor truck on the beach. Made me want ice cream and took me back to grade school. 

Looks like a postcard.

A great day for flying a kite!

A skeleton of a dinosaur in the sand. The kids were loving it. Made me think of my four children when they were little with not a care in the world. 

I walked two miles on the boardwalk a couple times and enjoyed it so much. 

I was walking by this signage and it stopped me and I stared at it. "No Profanity Please" and underneath it, it says "Be courteous." I loved it! I thought we should have that sign all over the world...

At dusk. The pink of the water was like ice...stunning!

Sunrise at 6am. 

A doodle of the ocean while sitting on deck, seagazing, listening to the waves crash as the gulls fly in the oh so blue sky.

There's some highlights from my trip to Ocean City, MD. I was there with about 20 women who ranged in age from their twenties to their seventies. We all got along well and we were there to celebrate our girlfriend's sixtieth birthday. I'm go glad I took the time to get away. I feel refreshed and renewed in spirit. Something all of us need to do at least once a year!

Best Wishes, 

Carole Brecht

http://www.thesandwichwoman.com/

https://www.facebook.com/thesandwichwoman
Instagram: @San_Gen_Woman
Twitter: Carole Brecht @SanGenWoman

Copyright 2015

** Cargivers Rock **

                                  ~Words That Soothe and Ideas & Art That Delight~

Copyright 2015

○●○●○● Caregivers Connecting Globally ●○●○●○

                                                     ~Words That Soothe and Ideas & Art That Delight~

Copyright 2015

The Sandwich Generation: Nurture The Nurturers

We need to “Nurture the Nurturers,” and to remind people how important it is to take care of themselves. Whether you are a Caregiver for a family member by default or choice or started out by "just being a helper," you are highly valued and needed. I didn't know what a Caregiver was until I was long into the emotional journey of caring for my Mother. I didn't know much about chronic illnesses, caring for someone else besides myself, organizing and managing someone else's life and everything it took to provide proper care. I will never look back with regret. If I had to, I'd do it all over again. If I were to change anything, I would not be so stressed over circumstances I had no control over and I'd understand my limitations better and seek more assistance. 

The Sandwich Generation is uniting globally because the needs are so great. 60,000,000+ Caregivers in this nation alone. That number does not include professional Caregivers. The numbers are staggering how many people are getting Alzheimer's Disease and other variations of dementia as they age. Being around someone who has  either a slow or rapid decline with memory impairment is a painful thing to witness. The long goodbye is a perfect name for such a disease. Our memories are essential - they make us who we are today. There are plenty of Caregivers and parents who are not only caring for the seniors in their lives, they are still raising their children or may have a special needs child who needs daily care too. The boomer generation has a lot of responsibility!

If you have a story about your life as a Caregiver that you'd like to share with this Global Community, please submit it to us via facebook email. We will post it so everyone can read and learn from you. If you have tips, helpful ideas when Caregiving, solutions for difficult circumstances and even a thought for the day, we encourage you to send them to us. We'd like to see you take an active role on this page and to feel welcome to do so. The learning curve is ongoing when dealing with healthcare issues. We can all benefit from your insights. 

Best Wishes, 

Carole Brecht

http://www.thesandwichwoman.com/

https://www.facebook.com/thesandwichwoman
Instagram: @San_Gen_Woman
Twitter: Carole Brecht @SanGenWoman

Copyright 2015

~Nurture the Nurturers~

~Words That Soothe and Ideas & Art That Delight~

Copyright 2015

Grandmother, Mother, Daughter, Caregiver*

This picture says it all.

The Sandwich Generation of Caregivers makes critical decisions daily for its loved ones. Maintaining stability while changing roles with our parents, we strive our best to morph into the Caregiver role, in what seems like a moment's notice. Suddenly in midlife, we have an on-going role change with those whom we care about most. I didn't even know the term Caregiver until I was well into my emotional journey of caring for a parent...and then life took on a new meaning. Everything changed, including me. I was just being a "helper" as a daughter. I didn't know what I was doing. Every day called for something different. It felt like I was flying blind, managing medical teams, Caregivers, specialists, medication and everything under the sun - a gigantic job I had no training for. 

I often feel I am chasing time, because so much needs to be done. We all have 24 hours in a day. That is the basic thing we have in common, aside from the obvious. It's critical we organize and manage our time wisely while we try to stay ten steps ahead. There is nothing to prepare us to manage critical events until they present themselves. Be open minded to learn as you go and to accept advice.  It's not simple, it's complicated. I'll be writing more about this in another blog.

We stay the course and never give up. Love for someone is a powerful motivator. I long for even one more day with my Mother.

Mother's Day is nearing and we love our Mothers so much. Let's honor them with a salute to those who have served. Women are on the front line, working and managing tirelessly, setting examples for our children. Mothers are a 24/7 army of women who have served since the beginning of time. 

Happy Mother's Day to you! I hope you have a fun-filled day. And if your Mother is no longer with you, you still have your memories to see you through and to appreciate the time you shared when she was here.

Best Wishes,

Carole Brecht

http://www.thesandwichwoman.com/

https://www.facebook.com/thesandwichwoman

Instagram: @San_Gen_Woman
Twitter: Carole Brecht @SanGenWoman


Copyright 2015

~Hearts for Caregivers~

                                                ~Words That Soothe and Ideas & Art That Delight~

Copyright 2015

- - The Sandwich Woman At Sea - -

Like a boat sailing the sea - dealing with life's storms and rough waters - we stay the course and put our best foot forward.

If you're caring for someone who needs you 8 - 24 hours a day, you're not alone. 

Give your best. Avoid those who criticize or are confrontational. You need every ounce of positive energy you can cling to.

Not everyone has the ability to be the one to take charge and determine what needs to be done next. 

Whether by default or choice you're a primary caregiver, patient advocate, manager of care, supervisor or any variation or combination thereof - you are being relied upon to do for others and facing a responsibility level you never thought possible. Millions of family members are walking this walk all over the planet. The needs are great. Though it may seem like it, you are certainly not alone.

The truth is - you may be the only one that really knows what's going on and the only one who's willing to take responsibility to care for another and do all that is required. It's not about the recognition or the pat on the back. It's about the love we feel and the life we lead that makes a difference in someone's life who needs us the most.

Set sail with confidence on a daily basis. When you look back, you will be amazed at all you've accomplished. The truth is, as long as you maintain your peace of mind, it makes no difference what anyone else thinks. You know deep down it is you who is the one staying the course. And best of all, you'll never look back with regret. You've created a life worth living.

Good job!

Best Wishes,

Carole Brecht 

http://www.thesandwichwoman.com/

https://www.facebook.com/thesandwichwoman
Instagram: @San_Gen_Woman
Twitter: Carole Brecht @SanGenWoman

Copyright 2015

The Sandwich Generation Of Caregivers

The Sandwich Generation Community is dealing with critical life decisions, being patient advocates, receiving Power of Attorney (POA), an abundance of pharmaceuticals, nursing care, 24/7 care, extending longevity, hospice care and quality of life issues that are all pressing matters. We are all concerned for the health, well being and future of mankind. 

We are a generation of Caregivers who strive to meet the needs of those in our lives who need assistance with living, be it the young or old or both, who may need financial, emotional and/or physical help.

"The Sandwich Woman: The Heart Of The Sandwich Generation" (launched two months ago) is a Global Community on facebook and the web that is nearing 1,000 in number. The message and mission of this Community are far-reaching. The countries represented are Australia, United Kingdom, Greece, Taiwan, South Africa, Canada, Singapore, Guyana, Nigeria, Thailand, Spain and Switzerland, as well as many states across the United States, a confirmation that the desire for support and guidance is worldwide. It's been exciting seeing this Community grow!

We're experiencing a change in how our healthcare system is evolving and how we deal as a Sandwich Generation, doing all that we do. My definition of The Sandwich Woman (applicable to The Sandwich Generation) is: A woman in midlife who is assisting, supporting or otherwise caring for a child and/or an elder, also known as a master at juggling a million things at once!

We are making critical decisions daily, while caring for others. Our children may be grown, but it's a different day from the '70s when I grew up. Children are staying home longer or leaving and coming back. The cost of living is ever increasing, and attaining healthcare is still a hardship for millions of people because it's so costly. The variation of the family unit and dual income family and single parent family have changed the family unit dynamic. There are no easy answers and no shortcuts to alleviate the pressures of the demands we face daily. 

The heart design with this blog represents "The Heart Of The Matter" to me for all that we need to do and all those we need to care for. Our Global Community desires to make a difference for those whom we love and who need us most.

Thank you for your support and participation! Joining forces and being part of The Sandwich Woman Community will benefit all of us. Please send an invitation to those in your facebook network who are in midlife to Like "The Sandwich Woman: The Heart Of The Sandwich Generation" facebook page. This is a place to gather, to be inspired, to draw strength and comfort while going through the sometimes challenging hardship of being in such an important role. The next generation is watching us. Our children are learning from us on how to care for others in their lives. We all would like to have a good quality of life throughout our lifetimes. Let's continue to grow this Community and keep the momentum going.

I have a big heart for Caregivers. They are often the rock of their families, in a very serious role, especially when someone is completely dependent daily. You inspire me. I respect you immensely. I care about you. I want to hear from you. Please share what your concerns are and what resolutions you may have. We can all benefit from your insight and experience. Thank you for your consideration.

Best Wishes, 

Carole Brecht

http://www.thesandwichwoman.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thesandwichwoman
Instagram: @San_Gen_Woman
Twitter: Carole Brecht @SanGenWoman


Copyright 2015