In the Room Where It Happens

From our last in-person Fearless Caregiver Conference held before Covid-19 shut everything down to the in-person event last week, the distance was about 45 miles and 875 days.  Even though we conducted a handful of virtual events that were also terrific in the past two years, it was well worth the wait.  The tremendous panelists and experts in the audience (otherwise known as family caregivers) shared wisdom on issues from medical marijuana to Veteran services to legal issues, Alzheimer’s and Dementia, as well as care management and much more. 

Since 1995, at over 300 conferences, seminars and keynote sessions, one thing remains constant. When caregivers get the opportunity to share with one another, the wisdom is rampant.  Each family caregiver has learned at least one piece of the caregiving puzzle that other caregivers are seeking.

• Need to know how to get your loved one to accept home care?  Ask a caregiver.  
• Need to know best options to stop someone from driving?  Ask a caregiver. 
• Need to know how to partner with your loved one’s medical team as an equal? Ask a caregiver.
• Need to know how to always get your fellow family members to help (well, let’s not go overboard)! Yet, if you want some excellent tips to help in many of these instances?  Ask a caregiver.

I always start my speaking sessions by thanking four caregivers in the room for writing my next months’ worth of articles for this newsletter.  And thankfully this event was just as chock filled with topics.

Don’t believe me about where caregiving wisdom is to be found?  I’ll prove it to you. The next time you are in a pharmacy line, hospital emergency or doctor's waiting room and you find yourself sitting near another caregiver, take a moment to introduce yourself and share a tip about something that helps you get through the day. Then ask what gets them through their day.  I think you’d be surprised how much you learn from your fellow caregiver and even more surprised about what you will learn from each other.

And besides, In-person hugs are much better than virtual ones.

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