Monday, March 19, 2012

More stories from Joe M.....lean on me!

Joe M. talks about people being dependent on each other

I can't really imagine someone not taking care of a family member or loved one but I'm sure that it does happen. Since being a Caregiver for my wife, I now look for opportunities to help others. I believe that we are all dependent on each other. In the supermarket I want to push someone's cart or get something off the shelf. I wonder about whether they have anyone who thinks about them or helps them.

I even gave a ride to a woman this past winter who was walking past the cemetery in a snow storm. I couldn't believe she was out walking to the library in that weather. I wasn't even going that way, but I couldn't let her walk in those conditions. She may have been embarrassed or just ignoring the fact that it would have been better to be dependent on a relative or even a taxi for her safety. Some people think they can survive anything, but this was a bad storm. There are probably Caregivers who resist help in that same way. It’s a thing of pride for some.

My kids are always in contact with me and we take care of each other. I don't mind being dependent on them for emotional support because it feels good and I give them back the support they need as well. We all miss my wife. I know there are families that aren’t close. That would have made the caring for my wife almost impossible if we hadn’t had each other.

I've always basically been a caring person and my dream was to take care of others. Early on I wasn't thinking, as I did with my wife, of helping with health issues but more with the financial side of things.

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