Presenting a Workshop to Lutheran Women about caregiving, Journey With Jeff: Inspiration for Caregivers of People With Special Needs, naturally came into play. The person writing the review of my Workshop reported: "Sybil explained how her experience as a caregiver of a developmentally disabled son has shown her the importance of support for caregivers. She also shared with us several stories from "Chicken Soup for the Caregiver's Soul." Points she made that can help the caregiver included: 1. Laughter can change things - look for the silver lining; 2. Respect the dignity of the person - treat an adult as an adult, not a child; 3. Comfort for caregivers can be found in 2 Corinthians l:3 and 4; 4. Ask for help - others may want to help, but don't know what you need; 5. Find a friend who is willing to listen to you, or join a support group where you can receive encouragemnet from others; 6. Take care of yourself - you are very important to the person you care for. Since many people attending this workshop were, or had been caregivers, there was a lot of discussion and sharing of caregiving experiences based on the above points. Sybil suggested several resources caregivers might find helpful. They included "Chicken Soup for the Caregiver's Soul," and "Chicken Soup for Children with Special Needs." These books can be found in most bookstores. Sybil's book, "Journey With Jeff," is available on Amazon.com, or, along with a 5CD copy, can be ordered from her e-mail address, rsreisch@frontiernet.net." (Photo is of Lutheran Women convention table.)
No comments:
Post a Comment