Thank You!
We take some time to give thanks to you.
Thank you for:
Figuring it out even as you face so many brick walls and red tape.
Showing up during all those really difficult, heartbreaking moments.
Staying with it when all seems lost.
Doing your best during the worst.
Making the difficult decisions each and every time a difficult decision is required.
As I reflect on this list, I also have to acknowledge that I feel we have failed you, that we owe you apologies.
I’m sorry:
We never figured out how to attract and retain a talented direct care workforce pool so you have access to affordable, reliable help. (I also feel we the direct care workforce a huge apology for working them too hard and paying them too little.)
Our systems make you do so much work for free.
You receive equipment that can be difficult to maintain and sometimes is too broken to really use.
You don’t have access to community programs that are easy to use and lessen the heaviness of your day. You have to jump through too many hoops to get the help you need.
Too many organizations determine their priorities to help you based on whether the initiative will bring in money. Their priorities should be getting help and support for you. Sometimes, though, the priorities become what their donors and grantors want, which can sometimes be an ego boost. Their ego boost will never make your days easier.
Too many in power say “someone should do something about this!” but pass on being the one to do the hard work required to do something.
Too many organizations pass on collaborating and instead choose to be territorial.
That organizations offer what used to work but don’t pivot to offering what will help today. A caregiving experience today is much different than what it was five, ten years ago. You need flexible programs and services that help you now and will help you tomorrow.
That we’ve sometimes value clicks and views over real-word impact.
Twenty years ago, I thought we were positioned to really change the caregiving experience. But we didn’t. We didn’t work together. We didn’t invest money and resources wisely.
Thank you for not giving up. You deserve better from us.
Because you deserve better, I’m not giving up. I’m continuing to meet with anyone who I think can help and walking away when I know they won’t. I’m going to keep challenging those who make noise in our space but never make a difference. I’m continuing to revise the programs I develop to ensure they meet you where you are with comfort and support. I’m focused on listening to what you need to make sure I understand those needs and do what I can to meet those needs. I get how hard your day is. I won’t give up on doing what I can to make it easier.
My Commitment to You: A Telehealth Primary Care Practice for You in 2025
I believe you deserve to have a primary care physician who understands your life as a family caregiver. I believe you deserve to receive care through a primary care practice that easily refers you to caregiving coaches, community resources and ongoing support.
I’ve been working hard to make this happen. I’m only at the beginning but am committed to working through the terrible middle, which has lots of challenges and difficulties that will tempt me into derailing, and launching a Telehealth primary care practice that meets all your needs — physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual — in 2025.
I’ll keep you posted!
What About You?
I’d love to know what you think. What additional apologies do we owe you?
(Image by Petra from Pixabay.)
Resources
Please share your caregiving data which can represent the reality of your caregiving day.
Join us in November for special events and deals on our training programs.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts in our survey about the help and support you want and need. It’s been so helpful for me to read your insights about your experiences. If you haven’t had a chance to complete the survey yet, you’ll find it here. It takes about 5 minutes.
We are creating a pool of family caregivers and former family caregivers available to be paid exam graders for our training program participants and who would like to receive free support. Join me November 7 at 7 p.m. ET to learn more.
Watch the latest episode of Caregiver Support Live. We answer two questions: “Do I need a therapist?” and “What do I do about my family member who wants to spend all her money on 24-hour home care?”