Alzheimer's Speaks host Lori La Bey joins Suzanne to talk about what caregivers need most. Lori says they need to be understood, appreciated, supported, not feel alone, and have choice and a voice in how we move forward.

Suzanne described a welcome experience. "I had friends that would ask, how can we help, Suzanne? And I was so overwhelmed, I'd say, 'oh, I'm fine,' or I would do this and I didn't even think about it. After probably like three years into caring for my mom, I had two girlfriends show up at my doorstep, and they said, 'We're the Joy Committee. We've hired a caregiver for you to be there for your mom for the day, and we're gonna take you out, and we're gonna bring joy to your life, and you can feel free to call anytime, do whatever you want if you wanna vent. That was one of the greatest gifts I'd ever been given. And I didn't even think about it at the time. I was too overwhelmed."

Lori says, "I had girlfriends like that too. They didn't come and take me out, but I ended up joining them for coffee every week. I kept pushing away, because I didn't have time. But when I finally did go have coffee — and my intent was to have coffee and then not ask me again, because I just didn't have time for it — I found out how empty my soul was, because I was so busy being busy, and caring for everyone else but myself. I got refilled, and it felt so good. It felt joyful, it felt peaceful. I felt energized, all of those things that I think we overlook so often because we're too busy being busy."

Lori adds, "Sending cards, even, could be a small little thing like that, for a lot of people. I would send a card every week. It would just drop it in the mail. I do like a dozen of them at a time. And they said, boy, it was just nice to get something in the mail. Or calling somebody just to check in to say, 'how are you doing? And I really want to hear how you're doing.' Just somebody to listen, and to understand, and to know that it's ok, no matter what happens."

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Alzheimer's Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com

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