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Rayna Neises, your host, interviews Nancy Bouwens. Nancy is a writer, life coach, cancer survivor and caregiver. Nancy and her husband moved in with her aging mother and shares the following insights regarding her caregiving experience:
- Simply spending time with your loved one lets them know that they are valuable, they matter, and they are loved.
- Self-care is important and fills the bucket back up: taking a walk; reading; knitting; meeting friends at a restaurant or for coffee; feeding your creative side with new recipes, crafts, or activities you have not done in a while.
- When your loved one gets down, just keep speaking life into them. Be encouraging and let them know that they matter . . . even if they do not receive it, there is power in your words!
- Be mindful in each moment no matter the task and do not take anything for granted.
- Nurturing and setting boundaries help to preserve all relationships involved . . . self, loved one, and significant other. It also allows for there to be strong, healthy relations once the caregiving journey is over.
- Stay filled up and take care of yourself during the journey. When you sense burnout, be willing to take a step back, draw boundaries, and listen to yourself.
