Prepare To Care with Jane Barton

At the end of a lengthy and arduous journey of caregiving, many caregivers are emotionally, physically, and spiritually exhausted. And sadly, many are also financially spent. Just as we are wise to prepare to care, we must also consider what is to be done at the end of the journey. How do we regain our own sense of health and well-being and learn how to care for ourselves once again. In our final episode of Prepare To Care, Jane Barton reminds us of the importance of self-care as caregiving ends by sharing her beautiful Caregivers Benediction with us.

When chatting about grief and loss, most people assume the topic of discussion is the ultimate loss - death. However, we experience a myriad of losses through the journey of caregiving: good health, independence, freedom, financial security, lifestyle, relationships, employment, innocence, youth, faith, and hope. With each loss, we experience a natural, emotional response. In this episode of Prepare To Care, Jane Barton talks about the importance to recognize each loss and how ignoring grief can delay the healing process.

Contrary to popular belief, hospice is not a four-letter word nor is hospice something to be feared. Hospice is a philosophy and model of health care designed to serve persons in compassionate, life-giving ways. So why does the word "hospice" cause so much angst? More often than not, our reactions are rotted in lack of knowledge, fear of death, denial, and avoidance. In this episode of Prepare To Care, Jane Barton takes us through the first steps to overcome our fears of hospice so that we can Prepare To Care.

For most people rooted in Western culture, it is difficult to ask for and receive help from others. However, the reality is that we will all need help at some point due to the challenges posed by aging and/or illness. So, how are we to overcome our resistance to assistance? In this episode of Prepare to Care, Jane Barton uses the metaphor of "geese flying in information" to provide us with the essential ingredients for collaborative care.

Most people are not fond of change. Instead, we love our routines; we gravitate toward certainty. We are comforted by what is known. Perhaps one reason why the journey of caregiving is so daunting is change? Change is a constant companion resulting in change fatigue for many caregivers. On this episode of Prepare to Care, author, speaker, and active listener, Jane Barton uses the metaphor of a "bridge" to help us understand the process of change and transition, in order to Prepare To Care.

Caregiving is a universal concern, and in some form or fashion, we are all called to care. Each one of us will serve as caregivers numerous times in the course of a lifetime. And, just as important, each one of us will need care at some point. But are we prepared to care? In this episode of Prepare to Care, author, speaker, and active listener, Jane Barton's soothing style is the perfect motivation for us to accept the call in order to Prepare To Care.