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Weekly Newsletter

July 5, 2023

Quote of the Week:

“The simple act of caring is heroic.” 

– Edward Albert

 

The Importance of Caregivers Telling Their Stories

 

What’s so important about stories?

About listening to someone’s story — about themself? 

About telling YOUR story?


Some stories maybe haven’t been told enough.


Queen Elizabeth II’s story was told so many times and many people loved to hear her story.


As we age, our story changes. We may even forget important “chapters”. Not forget as in, unable to remember. But forget as in “just don’t think about it anymore.” Doesn’t seem important.


As we experience ourselves we naturally feel we are the protagonist in our own story. And if no one is interested in your story, maybe it’s not an important story.


Telling your story IS important.

Watch our recently recorded Caregiver Webinar:

"Why & How Caregivers are Telling Their Stories"

featuring Sally Gelardin, EdD

 
 

Sally Gelardin, EdD, has been throughout her adult life, a Life Story Audio/Video Interviewer, Editor/Author/Educator, Life Transitions Counselor/Coach, Outreach Specialist, Engagement and Education Regional Director of elder communities, International Licensee of retail fashion business for men and women.


If you are interested in changing careers and/or lifestyle, as she did, as a result of your caregiving experience, view:

sallygelardin.com

 

As Sally notes, here are some of the reasons for

CAREGIVERS to share their stories.

Why tell your story:

  • Explore roots/family/cultural history
  • Move from stress to strength
  • Get support, support others
  • Gain wisdom, self-awareness, self confidence
  • Shift from role to soul
  • Keep memories alive 
  • Manage transitions 
  • Experience catharsis
  • Identify options

How to tell your story:

  • Read/write/watch/listen to caregiving stories
  • Share family/cultural/holiday recipes
  • Record voice/video
  • Retrieve family photos
  • Integrate voice/video with photos, maps, music and other sensory resources
  • Seek technical and interviewing support to tell your story, as needed

Whether you’ve never told your story or told it a million times, it’s never too late to tell your caregiver story.

Possible benefits:

  • Increase physical, spiritual, and emotional strength and flexibility
  • Explore how you can apply your strengths  in your work/life
  • Increase awareness of career/caregiving options
  • Pass on your wisdom to others 
  • Gain psychological, philosophical, scientific, historical, spiritual insights.
  • Enhance technology skills

To experience the impact a caregiver story can have on others, view 

Dear Audrey Trailer:

 

Why may others want to hear YOUR story?


  • You are not from the predominant culture
  • Your ethnic or religious group is misunderstood
  • You have experienced addiction, disability, and/or health challenges
  • You come from another country or moved across country
  • You lived or are living through a difficult time in history


Why helping someone tell their story may be important?


  • Helps you understand them more deeply
  • Can shift your relationship with that person
  • Can give that person, whose story you have shared, a very special gift of recognition 
  • Can give others your perspective on someone who you feel needs to be seen more fully

Resources for Caregivers:

 

Intergenerational Programming & Activities Blog: marinactivitypro.com/blog


Share Your Story:

memoryvideo.com/share-your-story/


Sally Gelardin, A LifeTime of Happiness with Kim Nguyen

(Memory Video Interview)


Sally Gelardin, Career & Caregiving: Empowering the Shadow Workforce of Family Caregivers:

sallygelardin.com/#/writing/


National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center

https://nadrc.acl.gov/resources


Alameda County Social Services:

Alamedacountysocialservices.org/our-services

 

Upcoming Workshops & Events

 
 
 

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helping them to meet the challenges of aging with more joy and better health.

DayBreak is here to assist seniors and caregivers in need.

If you know a senior who might benefit from our care and coordination services, or a caregiver in need of support, please have them contact us at

510-834-8314

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