I'm a caregiver, and I think alot about what I need as a caregiver. My job is to care. I am legally responsible for the health, safety, nutrition, and well being of two dozen people for 8 hours every day. To say this is stressful and that I could never be paid for what I do, is an understatement. But in reality, as a caregiver, I spend every day at work giving, giving, giving. Some days I sarcastically say I get paid to give a shit. I put my emotions and needs in check every minute to professionally endure situations I personally find embarrassing, morally wrong, stupid, or just plain annoying. All with a poker face.
But then I come home, and I want someone to take care of the caretaker. After enduring an entire shift being overloaded with human interactions, many negative, all I want is some SPACE. Sometimes, its as simple as being able to say the forbidden phrase "SHUT UP". I just want to say it. Shut up. Shut Up. SHUT up. SHUT UP. SHUUUTT UUUUUUUUUUP!!!!!!!!! Shut up. There. :)
When I think about getting home all I want is someone to meet me at the door with my pjs and a glass of wine, ask me how my day was, have dinner ready, and then massage my sweaty, stinky feet. (lol) Ok that's not alot, right?! In reality, what I need when I get home is a quiet atmosphere, NO drama, no one asking me questions or needing things from me, no questions, getting to choose whats on TV... okay, okay. :)
I need to decompress after my day, and sometimes I really just need a little bit of space to process. I've spent my day listening to and neutralizing people's (real or imagined) problems, stopping 501 fist fights, wiping snotty noses, meeting the time-sensitive demands of nursing and paperwork, and closing the eyes of the ones I care for for the last time.
A caregiver needs someone who can give them their space, respect the 1001 issues they deal with after the shifts end, and give back to them when they feel emotionally, spiritually, and physically drained. Someone who can deal with whatever happened during the 8 hours they were at work and then for an hour or two afterwards. Not saying that I don't want to know what happens.... but my emotional sponge needs some re inflation time!!! (not saying the glass of wine and a foot rub wouldn't be a class act...... :) )
I'm a caregiver. I know more about personal care than you probably do. But I need to not feel like a caregiver when I get home. When I get home, at least for a few hours, I need the tables to turn.
But then I come home, and I want someone to take care of the caretaker. After enduring an entire shift being overloaded with human interactions, many negative, all I want is some SPACE. Sometimes, its as simple as being able to say the forbidden phrase "SHUT UP". I just want to say it. Shut up. Shut Up. SHUT up. SHUT UP. SHUUUTT UUUUUUUUUUP!!!!!!!!! Shut up. There. :)
When I think about getting home all I want is someone to meet me at the door with my pjs and a glass of wine, ask me how my day was, have dinner ready, and then massage my sweaty, stinky feet. (lol) Ok that's not alot, right?! In reality, what I need when I get home is a quiet atmosphere, NO drama, no one asking me questions or needing things from me, no questions, getting to choose whats on TV... okay, okay. :)
I need to decompress after my day, and sometimes I really just need a little bit of space to process. I've spent my day listening to and neutralizing people's (real or imagined) problems, stopping 501 fist fights, wiping snotty noses, meeting the time-sensitive demands of nursing and paperwork, and closing the eyes of the ones I care for for the last time.
A caregiver needs someone who can give them their space, respect the 1001 issues they deal with after the shifts end, and give back to them when they feel emotionally, spiritually, and physically drained. Someone who can deal with whatever happened during the 8 hours they were at work and then for an hour or two afterwards. Not saying that I don't want to know what happens.... but my emotional sponge needs some re inflation time!!! (not saying the glass of wine and a foot rub wouldn't be a class act...... :) )
I'm a caregiver. I know more about personal care than you probably do. But I need to not feel like a caregiver when I get home. When I get home, at least for a few hours, I need the tables to turn.
