Daily Archives: May 18, 2012

Caring for Your Carer

If we are lucky, we have friends, family and/or partners to help and support us – but do you let them know how much you appreciate them? Love them? Couldn’t live without them? These are our care-givers. (In case you didn’t know, I love you, Mommy! I appreciate you and I can’t live without you!)

Thank You!

I really appreciate you,
Your helpful, giving ways,
And how your generous heart
Your unselfishness displays.

I thank you for your kindness,
I will not soon forget;
You’re one of the nicest people
I have ever met.

Carers provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who are frail & aged. There are currently over 2.6 million unpaid family carers in Australia, more than 770,000 of whom are primary carers – the people who provide the most care (Australian Bureau of Statistics (2009) Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers).

You Didn’t Have To

Thank you for what you did;
You didn’t have to do it.
I’m glad someone like you
Could help me to get through it.

I’ll always think of you
With a glad and grateful heart;
You are very special;
I knew it from the start!

On average carers spend approximately 40 hours per week providing care. It is estimated that carers of someone with a mental illness spend on average 104 hours per week in the caring role (Mental Health Council of Australia and Carers Australia (2000) Carers of People with Mental Illness).

Help and Caring

Thanks for doing what you did;
You are kind beyond belief;
Your help and caring calmed me down,
And gave me soothing relief.

Carers often experience reduced physical, mental and emotional health once their caring commences. Over time the effects of caring may intensify. It is also important for the carers to look after themselves. Carers also need to manage stress, eat well and exercise.

It Doesn’t Seem Enough

I want to tell you “Thank you,”
But it doesn’t seem enough.
Words don’t seem sufficient–
“Blah, blah” and all that stuff.

Please know I have deep feelings
About your generous act.
I really appreciate you;
You’re special, and that’s a fact!

Caring can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Regular breaks from caring can help relieve their stress and exhaustion.

For All You Do

Thank you so much for all you do;
You’re truly a delight;
When my life overwhelms and does me in,
You make everything all right.

The people who care for us often have no choice about their roles. The constant demands of caring and the many changes in family life may bring about a range of feelings and emotions. Some people may feel a sense of satisfaction about being a carer. Others may feel angry and overwhelmed at times. These emotions can be difficult to cope with.

Priorities

Thank you…
for thinking of me
and then wondering
how you could help.
Thank you…
for doing what you did,
instead of being too busy,
or just forgetting about it.
Thank you…
For inking me
on your priority to-do list,
when you have
so many other things to do;
I am honored;
It meant a lot to me.
Thank you.

Maybe it’s time to celebrate and acknowledge the vital role carers play in our lives. Maybe it’s time to say Thank You, I Love You, You’re Fantastic?

You Made My Day

I appreciate your kindness
More than words can say;
The very nice thing you did for me
Really made my day!

You could drop over with a fruit platter, home-made meal, cake or a bunch of flowers, just to say hello and acknowledge the great job they are doing. You could write a short note of appreciation and leave it in their letter box. You could give them a voucher for a massage or one from a retail outlet like a book shop.