What Happens if We Change the Way We Think About Aging and Caregiving?
How we think and talk about getting older changes how we experience aging and care for those we love.
Too often the narrative focuses on the negative aspects of aging. Caregiving and care receiving are seen as a burden or problem when loved ones who need our help can still live a life of meaning and engagement and so can their caregivers. Caregiving can be stressful but also a love-filled, interesting time, says gerontologist Dr. Sarah Teten Kanter, but that all depends on how we think of it.
When we focus on positive emotions like awe, gratitude, empathy, forgiveness, and love we can change the caregiving and aging experience, she says.
“Aging is not a problem to be resolved,” Teten Kanter says. “The narratives around caregiving and aging in America are often once sided and talk about the caregiver and the caregiver burden and all the things that go along with adapting to that. But there are many things to enjoy and many experiences to be had even with the challenges that come with aging and caring for the loved one.
“With the right tools and the right mindset we can create an opportunity to deepen our relationships and for our own growth wisdom and resilience for a lifetime.”
Resources:
Dr. Sarah Kanter is the CEO of Positive Caregving and the author of Positive Caregiving: Caring for Older Loved Ones Using the Power of Positive Emotion: https://positivecaregiving.com
Polly Campbell, pollycampbell@substack.com and pollycampbell.com
And check out Polly’s newest book about living with greater vitality. You Recharged: How to Beat Fatigue (mostly) Amp Up Your Energy (usually) and Enjoy Life Again (always)
ake caregiving and care receiving a time to savor and an opportunity for personal growth using the power of positive emotions.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices