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Honoring caregivers

FLORENCE, Wis. — November is National Family Caregiver Month, a time to recognize and thank the many hard-working and devoted people who make it their mission to keep a loved one happy and safe. You deserve to be celebrated.

Caregivers come from all walks of life and care for people with an array of needs. Reasons for providing care differ from situation to situation.

Daily tasks that caregivers perform also vary greatly. But there are some things that all caregivers have in common; dedication, love, commitment, a sense of selflessness and most likely, a good sense of humor.

Wisconsin’s theme for Family Caregiver Month is, “You Might Be A Caregiver If…” They chose this theme because it gives a real-life view of what caregiving is like. It encourages humor rather than promoting burden and recognizes the valued role and dedication of our state’s caregivers. And it gives caregivers a fun way to connect with each other as they add their own ending to the phrase.

In hopes of bringing some smiles and perhaps a chuckle to your day, here are some ways that might mean you are a caregiver.

You might be a caregiver if:

— You were up at 3 this morning helping someone to the bathroom;

— Your house has more pill bottles than wine bottles;

— You can pronounce medications with more than 10 letters in the name;

— You know your way around the hospital better than the mall;

— You can maneuver a wheelchair through Walmart with ease.

What does caregiving mean to you? How would you end the phrase, “You might be a caregiver if…?” What have you learned as a result of caring for someone? What are some things you do regularly, that you didn’t do before? What is different about your life now, that someone else wouldn’t understand unless they, too, were a caregiver?

As you ponder these questions, remember that you are valued, respected and appreciated. Thank you for all that you do to help another person enjoy life to the fullest.

If you have questions about caring for a loved one or would like help in your caregiving journey, contact the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Florence County at 715-528-4890, or stop by the office. The ADRC is in the lower level of the Florence County Courthouse, 501 Lake Ave. in Florence, Wis. You also can go to www.florencecountywi.com, or the ADRC of Florence Facebook page.

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