Do you often wonder what you can do to help a friend or loved one that is ill or infirmed or a caregiver?  Someone recently asked me “Anything we can do?”  I realized that people are truly at a loss when helping a family with a disabled or ill family member. We are doubly at a loss!  Unless you have had that experience, you are likely limited in your understanding of what a day in the life of a caregiver is like.  I am equally unaccustomed to asking for help or even being able to articulate how others can help.  So, I described a little of our situation to this individual, which helped me to figure out what we need.  We need community and we need spiritual nourishment.  We must remain connected to those that we love and that love us – especially God!  I am confident that others in a similar or even worse situation need the same thing in varying degrees. 

In answer to the question “Anything we can do?”, here are a few suggestions:

• ·         Stop by for a visit, but please call first.  Chat about any topic. 
• ·         Offer to come over and visit with the patient so the caregiver can either get out of the house for a few minutes…or take a nap…or clean….or whatever else they need to do but can’t because they must sit RIGHT THERE with their loved one.
• ·         Send a “thinking of you” card.
• ·         Call.  Talk with the caregiver.  Talk with the patient.  The patient – if still able to talk – might not know who you are.  That’s okay.  The good feeling from getting a phone call from someone will remain for a while!  If they can’t talk anymore, that’s okay, too!  They can listen…..and feel good.
• ·         Pray.  Prayer is powerful.  Then send an email or a card to say, “I prayed for you and your loved one.”  Powerful.