On November 13th #CallACaregiver for World Kindness Day
Many caregivers say they feel alone and isolated. While family members and friends often ask how the care recipient is doing, they don’t always think to ask how the caregiver is doing. Caregivers have told us this simple gesture of kindness, like calling them to ask how they’re doing, can make such a big difference in their day.
The Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO) is proud to share its Kindness Campaign again this year, which asks people to call or visit a caregiver on November 13, World Kindness Day, to see how they’re doing or to offer help.
Please help us spread the word by sharing this over social media, in your newsletter or even on your website. You will find our easy to download toolkit here: https://ontariocaregiver.ca/kindness-day
Caregivers care, we can too. #CallACaregiver today!
This campaign is imperative. When I was in the midst of dealing with my son's addiction, a very good friend would check in on me and ask, "Whose mothering the mother?" That was such a great question and always prompted me to ask myself if I was nurturing myself enough through this crisis, and if not, what could I be doing. Her calls helped ease the isolation.
As life long family caregiver this is a great start. I would add ,do something useful or needed for the caregiver.
I wish this message was all over the province and all Canada.
I wish the nation would do much more for family caregivers. Such as financial support and regular income, as is in many countries of Europe.
I think this is so important. When my late son was struggling with opioid issues and mental health (before his overdose death Dec 23 2001)... I felt like I was on my own trying to keep my son alive. It seemed that most of "my friends/family" could not step out from their own bias and judgement regarding addiction. There only support was framed around:
And when I tried to voice my very real concerns that Pete would die and that I did not want to abandon him; that I was trying to find constructive ways to help him they abandoned me. They were frustrated with me because I saw it as a health issue. They felt it was a moral failing.
And then the echelon of shame, blame. The judgement.
And then the judgement for society.
Pete died of an accidental opioid overdose. And still relatively little support. At Pete's funeral someone actually said to me.."things will be better for you now!!!!"
So yes. Please take time to make that call!!
Love this campaign (and we miss you at EENet [@mention:382443729491110426]
)!