The Power of Family
Dear Caregivers,
The first grandchild of NAN's co-founder was born this week, and it got me thinking about the power of family.
When a new child comes into the world, we naturally think first of the mother and father. But as a geriatrician, I find myself quickly thinking about the grandparents, and the long continuum of family that brought that baby into existence.
It’s a simple concept, but I never get over my astonishment thinking about it: Each baby has two parents, four grandparents, eight great-grandparents, and so on. And you don’t have to go back too far in time — just eight generations, or about 160 years — to get to the fact that more than 1,000 men and women from that time are directly related to that new baby!
As the poet Walt Whitman once wrote, “I contain multitudes.” And indeed, as you go through your daily rounds of caregiving, remember the role that you and your loved one play in your family’s legacy, and how you each may be one of those 1,000-plus people that are related to a little baby that is born a century from now.
I’ve spent my whole career — and you are now devoting a big part of your current life — caring for the elderly. It’s one of the hardest jobs in the world, and yet I hope you can find those moments of grace, as I do, when you feel that the task is one of the most rewarding you can experience.
Here’s some more insight into the power of family:
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.
How Families can Navigate the Costs of Caregiving:
Depending on your loved one’s illness and the financial and family resources they have, caregiving can have a significant impact on the financial stability of both the patient and the family members. Here’s how to prepare and plan.
Is Alzheimer’s Hereditary?
A so-called “family history” is not always associated with developing the disease — it is likely a combination of genetic, other medical, and lifestyle risk factors. Here's an overview.
Remember, if you can’t find the information you need on our website, you can always “Ask NAN” by clicking on this link.
Best,
Rosemary D Laird, MD, MHSA
Founder and Chief Medical Officer
“Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.”
— Anthony Brandt
