CARE FOR THE CAREGIVER

Family caregivers need respite or their physical and emotional health will be adversely affected. Asking for help is a first step. Naps, even short ones, rejuvenate the caregiver. Now if we could only get everyone who thinks they need to talk with us to cooperate during these brief rests, full benefit would be received.

Rest Disrupted

 

I rest with head and feet raised on two pillows each,

My ping pong mind dribbling slower

And slower among my duties past and future

When the phone rings, once. Annoyed awake I focus

On possible callers: A ring once and hang up. Perhaps

They’ll try again. Or someone in the house answered

And heard important information. More likely

They were offered a billing service if our company

Accepts credit card payments. Or a sales

 

Rep in North Carolina sees we should be needing

Disinfectant. Which makes me wonder

From my bed if we have used up the six gallons

We bought last year to receive free shipping.

Not likely. Or the recorded voice was NOT concerned

About our credit card but we should know--at

Which point I would press “1”  to remove our name

From their list, an action that hasn’t worked

In six years. No footfalls in the hall mean no one

Is coming to get me. But the damage is done;

Curiosity rattles rest from my mind and

The fall out shoves me from the bed. Finis.