By Lynn Kellogg
“Human kindness is overflowing, and I think it’s going to rain today”, lyrics of Neil Diamond’s song of the same name on his 1971 album, Stones. The song underscores the strength of human empathy and love against the rain of hardships faced.
Sometimes I pull out my old albums and listen on a retro player. Always enjoyable, my thoughts and reactions have different meanings with age.
Kindness flows from so many people who continually give their time, their talent, their money and support for others less fortunate, as well as support for the many causes and organizations that collectively work to aid humankind, communities, and God’s creatures. These are troubled times, rain seems like a thunderstorm, yet kindness still flows all around us.
When a crisis hits, you see neighborhoods, friends and communities unite automatically to help. One doesn’t think about oneself, kindness overflows. For people of good will, it’s a natural response.
The lyrics of Diamond’s song also ring true on a personal, everyday level; thinking about how we care for our families and loved ones. A friend recently shared the current state of her caregiving journey. Her husband’s chronic disease had progressed to where he could not be left alone. Love overflows, they get out together as much as possible but walking and confusion is becoming harder to compensate. Respite feels difficult to find.
Caregiving can start subtly: a simple reminder, a trip to a store, a frequent “how are you doing?” call, or taking over simple household chores. Then it grows, sometimes quickly, sometimes over years. As health surrogate for both my parents and caregiver for my husband through decline and passing, like most, I felt it a labor of love and end of a cherished era. I also treasured the friends and family who stayed close, enjoying life as best we could.
Sometimes it can feel like time for oneself to replenish body and spirit is skating away. Caregivers can become so depleted, their health suffers, and statistically about half pass away before the person they’re caring for.
Friends, family, and neighbors can and do fill the help and caregiving role. No matter what your relation to a person you’re helping, it’s critical to find out how to take care of oneself.
This column is a direct shoutout about an opportunity to all persons helping others. The Campus for Creative Aging is offering a sensational opportunity for caregivers.
Together in Care is a free, six-week education series for family and informal caregivers. You can join in person at the Campus for Creative Aging at 2920 Lakeview Ave. in St. Joseph, or online from home, every Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., starting Sept. 8.
Following input and questions from caregivers, the topics are spot on amazing. Week 1: What I Wish I Had Known: A Caregiver Panel. Week 2: Navigating Health & Medical Care. Week 3: Caregiving with Confidence: Practical Tips & Techniques. Week 4: Preparing for the Unexpected: A Caregiver’s Guide. Week 5: Strategies and Benefits of Self-Care. Week 6: The Best-Laid Plans: Avoiding Unintended Consequences in Estate & Long-Term Care Planning.
You can attend one or all sessions; no cost or obligation. Caregivers who attend at least three sessions will receive a $100 gift card. Caregivers who attend all six will receive a $200 gift card. To register go to https://morethanacaregiver.org/, or you can find a link by going to www.areaagencyonaging.org and clicking on Caregivers on the homepage. Together in Care will appear at the top.
Share this column and/or the website links with persons you know who give of themselves and are helping others. I’ll share it with my friend. Human kindness is overflowing; we must nurture and take strength from it.
Lynn Kellogg is former CEO of Region IV Area Agency on Aging in Southwest Michigan. Questions on age or independence services? Call the Info-Line for Aging & Disability at 800-654-2810 or visit areaagencyonaging.org. The Generations column appears each weekend in The Herald-Palladium.