Resilience in Pink
Dear Caregivers,
Azaleas are tough little shrubs! After all, by anyone’s standards it has been a very tough winter here in Florida, and in fact for most of the nation as well. Down here we got bone-chilling cold, snow, and torrential rains, while in some other winter-recreational areas up north it was above 50 degrees with no snow at all.
Yet here it is on the verge of spring in our region, and those wonderful, scrappy, azaleas are in bloom, with their pink, white, purple, lavender, peach, and orange blossoms bursting out seemingly everywhere, as if winter never happened.
What better way for Nature to send a message to us all about resilience! Certainly, as a caregiver of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s, you know about setbacks and tough spots that sometimes feel like they will never end. But you also know how things can bounce back and give you bursts of joy that remind you what your caregiving is all about.
Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease, and so there will be no doubt times for tears—and your NAN Navigator is here to help give you resources to help cope with that. But there are also moments of deep warmth, connection, and satisfaction that speak to the resilience that lies in every caregiver’s heart, and is gloriously celebrated by the shrubs that are blooming everywhere.
Here are some more resources about the resilience of caregiving:
Finding the Joy as a Family Caregiver:
The challenge that family caregivers face is to learn acceptance, to live in the present moment, and to let go of things you cannot control. This is a challenge to be sure, but if there can be any joy in caregiving, this is where it is.
The Challenges of Role Reversal in Caregiving:
You likely spent most of your life seeing your parent as a provider, protector, and decision-maker. Now, it is you who are in the role of being provider, protector, and decision-maker in your parent's life. Here’s how to manage that transition.
The Importance of Tears:
As caregivers, it is especially important not to suppress our feelings. The caregiving journey can be filled with sadness, frustration, and grief. Shedding tears is a natural and healthy response to those emotions. Tears benefit people in numerous ways, including helping to detoxify the body. Find out more about the importance of tears.
Best,
Rosemary D Laird, MD, MHSA
Founder and Chief Medical Officer
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."
— Nelson Mandela
