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Taking care of caregivers

Submitted by admin on Wed, 10/31/2018 - 11:01am
By

She knows the feelings of guilt, self-doubt, loneliness, anger and frustration and more. And when it all seems a little overwhelming, Linda Simonson realizes the emotions she deals with are nothing aside of what her husband faces each day.
Simonson spends the majority of each day taking care of Kevin, her husband of 35 years as he makes the most of everyday life with brain cancer. Kevin needs help to get around. He still enjoys going to see the football team play. He hopes to attend several wrestling matches this winter. But there are times he needs Linda’s help for some things.
As he did for her, Linda promised to care for Kevin in sickness and in health.
But whether they have cancer or are fighting dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, caring for someone almost around the clock isn’t easy. It brings feelings of isol tion and frustration that Kevin has to spend years the couple planned for their retirement fighting cancer. Linda fights the temptation to wonder why she and Kevin have been given this burden to bear. Kevin has the the best health medical care available. Linda has learned to care for herself, learning lessons and receiving support intended to help her be in a better state of mind to care for her husband.
Tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 1, 1-2:30 p.m., at Christ Lutheran Church in Glencoe, caregivers will come together to learn how to care for themselves while they take care of loved ones. The class is a six-week series of lessons, lectures and homework designed to help caregivers learn to take care of their own physical, mental and emotional well being so they are in the best possible condition to help a loved one in need. It is open to anyone who is caring for a loved one. With materials already paid for, the only cost is a free-will offering to help cover expenses of running the class.

Class could be
offered again
With enough interest, it will be offered again in the spring, probably in March and April at Christ Lutheran. There’s also a monthly support group at the church for caregivers.
“Caregivers so often times neglect their own self-care. They’re too busy caring for a loved one,” said Sarah Doering, a Lutheran Social Services caregiver support and respite program coordinator.

(For the complete story, see the Oct. 31 print edition of The Chronicle.)