30 Sep Bodywork & Caregivers, Colds & Cancellations, Meditation
Massage and the Caregiver
By Karrie Osborn
One-third of the US adult population are considered caregivers—those who work on average between 14 and 35 hours a week caring for a loved one. Whether it’s sitting by someone’s hospice bed, holding theirhand, and just being present for them; or theseemingly more stressful tasks of taking your loved one to their doctor appointments, advocating for their health care, making
sure all the doctors on their case are talking and know what the other is doing, and ensuring all the right meds are being taken, caregiving in any situation is exhausting.
Caregivers, however, often don’t realize the stress they are under until they’ve hit a wall. Many say they simply don’t have time to even stop and realize it. Massage is one stress-relieving tool that you, or the caregivers in your life, could look to for respite.
EMOTIONAL EXHAUSTION
Caregivers are growing in numbers as aging baby boomers settle into retirement and the golden years. Their families, friends, and loved ones are often called to assist in this part of the aging process.
In a caregiving role, the emotional component alone is enough to exhaust anyone—what’s harder than living day to day with your heart wide open? Think about it: What kind of emotional energy does it take to remain that present, that open, that ready for the loved one lying in the bed before you?
And all the while, these thoughts race through your mind: What more can I do for her? Am I ready for her to go? Is she ready to go? Is she comfortable? Is she in pain? Is her breathing labored? Does that wince mean she’s in pain?
It’s a never-ending process—until it does end. But, until that moment, it’s one of the most important (and most exhausting) things we can do for another— being present with intention in a caregiver’s role.
CAREGIVER BURNOUT
According to the Mayo Clinic, (To read “the rest of the story”, please click here BS Autumn 2019