Ever given much thought to what it entails for you to be a caregiver? Gail Sheehy details the job in a passage in her book, Passages in Caregiving, devising it to look like a help wanted ad.
"Help wanted: Untrained family member or friend to act as advocate, researcher, care manager, and emotional support for a parent or spouse, sibling or friend, who has been diagnosed with a serious illness or chronic disability. Duties: Make medical decisions, negotiate with insurance companies or Medicare; pay bills, legal work; personal care and entertainment in hospital or rehab. Long-term care: Medication management, showering, toileting, lifting, transporting, etc. Hours: On demand. Salary and benefits: 0"
Sobering the task before us.
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