This memoir takes the reader on a spiritual journey as Ellen and her partner tutor Tibetan refugees in Dharamsala and travel through the fascinating yet paradoxical country that is India.Buy from:
Ellen's book will strengthen and guide you in your role as caregiver to an elder parent or relative, and help you understand your own physical, emotional, mental & spiritual needs.Buy from:
New facebook group, “Surviving & Thriving as a Caregiver”
Last week I began a facebook group called Surving & Thriving as a Caregiver.
To access it simply click this link:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/143593152384407
or search the name of the group.
Surviving & Thriving as a Caregiver is a group for women who are caregivers for their aging parent, spouse or other family member. It’s purpose is to offer helpful information and to give caregivers a forum to share ideas and support each other.
- Each week I will post an article about a different aspect of being a caregiver, to help you in your journey (see over page for 1st article)
- This group will offer you an opportunity to connect with other caregivers and to share your experiences in the comfort of your home.
- Future group plans include a small in-person support group in Ellen’s home.
- If you are not familiar with facebook, simply sign in, (it’s very simple to set up an account), then search “Surviving & Thriving as a Caregiver”.
Here is the first article, posted on July 6th:
Being a caregiver is often an all encompassing role. Even when we are not with our parent or other family member, we may be thinking about them on some level, consciously or unconsciously. It’s easy for our role of caregiver to expand so that it takes over much of our life, and that’s okay, as long as we are clear on what we are doing and why.
Caregiving is a labour of love. We often become closer to the person we are caring for than almost anyone else in our lives. We share good times with them, and bad times, when crises may occur. We may be there or on call for our family member most of the time.
This is why we need to augment our life beyond the role of caregiver, to give ourselves a break from the challenges of caregiving, to provide balance in our life.
I invite you to think about the ways you are balancing your life – activities like walking, exercise classes, dancing classes, a glass of wine with friends, gardening – whatever takes you away from yourself and your duties in a positive way really.
I will be posting an article each week on this group page and invite your feedback, questions and concerns.
You can read other relevant articles at: http://ellenbesso.com
Joyfully
Ellen
