Day 5: on receiving support

As I had hoped yesterday, today I made it out to my caregiver support group. This is one of several groups sponsored by the Southern Caregiver Resource Center, an organization unique in that its focus is on providing resouces to the caregiver first, instead of on the loved one who needs care. I have taken advantage of SCRC's many resources over the past 2 1/2 years; their support groups are free and ongoing - no registration required. If you want to, you could attend 2-3 groups per week. After not being able to attend for a few months, I am self-committing to attend one support group per week: the 1st and 3rd Thursdays + the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays.

The caregiver support group has become a safe place for me...I am part of a circle of people who can totally relate to my trials and tribulations, as I can (more and more) relate to theirs. We provide one another the listening ear, wihout judgment or criticism. We share our hard-won experience, strength, and hope. If someone has a question about caregiving for their loved one, there is almost certainly someone else who has an answer, and the facilitator from SCRC is always there to help with access to resources.

Today I was the "newbie" in the group, though there was one other who had arrived the week before me. We commiserated over the challenges of caring for our loved ones, particularly if Dementia is involved (which I have found is an all too common denominator). As one of the other participants noted, "there always seems to be someone who has it worse than you." After this meeting, I walked out grateful that the Queen Mother wasn't even worse off, mentally - though that may yet come in the future.

I received the unexpected gift of some downtime as I waited for Himself to come and pick me up, since he had gone to help one of his friends with some necessary transportation while I circled in group. So I walked to the large mall across the street from the meeting place, and treated myself to a tall green tea frappuccino, which I enjoyed outside, in the waning of the warm days. We are actually expecting some RAIN in the forecast, and the temperature will be dipping a bit. I had just about finished the frappuccino when Himself pulled up, and after a quick caffeine reload for him, we were off to a spot of grocery shopping, then home for dinner.

Finally done with my day, I am winding down. Tomorrow has another trip to the VAMC, and the all-important oncology report. I am expecting continued good news, but I/we will happily accept good thoughts and prayers.