Who Cares February 2024

Written by Candice Smith | Feb 15, 2024 7:14:05 PM

A NOTE FROM OUR FOUNDER

Every caregiver's experience is unique. Meaning, not just from one person to another or from one day to the next, but in response to an injury mending or an illness progressing, or there are changes to daily support needs and the availability of others to help. Amidst all this uniqueness, commonalities exist, and they are the heart of Caregiven.

Whether you are caring for someone whom you love or providing support out of obligation, our research has shown that you are likely to feel a lot during this time. Helping identify how these emotional phases shape your approach to giving care becomes the heartbeat of your care journey.

Best wishes,

This Month's Blogs

February is a heart-centered month and not only because of Valentine’s Day, it’s also Black History Month and the Lunar New Year. What a perfect opportunity to talk about the necessity of multicultural caregiving and how caregivers are often required to mediate between the values of their family and those of a provider or health system. February is also American Heart Month and this year we write about the impact caregiving can have on our physical health as well as our emotional wellbeing.

7 Mobile Caregiver Apps

Heart "Burn"

Caregiving Across Cultures

FEATURE FOCUS - YOUR CARE JOURNEY

“Labeling is a way of validating someone’s emotion by acknowledging it,” writes Chris Voss, formerly the FBI’s lead international kidnapping negotiator, "that's why, instead of denying or ignoring emotions, good negotiators identify and influence them. They are able to precisely label emotions, those of others and especially their own. And once they label the emotions they talk about them without getting wound up. For them, emotion is a tool.”

While caregiving is as far from kidnapping as one can imagine, the principles Voss has identified are applicable, particularly in naming emotions and recognizing what tools these feelings offer. Caregiven has contextualized core emotions within the framework of caregiving experiences and offers a six-phase journey. Our unique approach of beginning with emotion allows us to curate articles, activities, and recommendations to support caregivers in their roles in giving care.

Caregiving, like emotion, is ever-changing and follows no specific cadence or order. What's important is the act of self-awareness, listening to one’s heart, and lessening fearful emotions that overshadow a care journey.

IN CLOSING

“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.” - Rosa Parks

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