Encouraging Others by Sharing Our Experiences

Encouraging Others by Sharing Our Experiences
by Mary Emma Allen

Sharing family experiences through your writing and speaking often helps others cope with similar situations in their lives.

I've found it rewarding to share my mother's story and encourage caregivers and families through my book, When We Become the Parent to Our Parents. I know Mother would be pleased her sister's and her lives have inspired others. Both had Alzheimer's disease and I was involved in their care.

It's especially rewarding when I can speak with caregivers, answer their questions, and give them hope that they can survive this experience with their family member...and bring their parent, spouse, or sibling joy in the process.

I was asked to speak at an assisted living home while in St. Augustine, Florida recently and had the opportunity to chat with many family members, afterwards. My husband, Jim, often attends with me, since he was my support while caring for Mother and Auntie. We also are involved in caring for his mom. Even though she doesn't have Alzheimer's, she's had to give up some of her independence and live in an assisted living home as she experiences decreasing eyesight.

Caregiving can be an exhausting, discouraging, and bittersweet experience. Yet it can be very rewarding as we learn to enjoy a family member in this new phase of their life.

Sharing our experiences in an attempt to encourage others helps answer the "Why?" we often ask ourselves when we're going through some of life's trials. It makes us stronger to help lift up others.

(Mary Emma Allen writes and speaks about Alzheimer's and caregiving to encourage others and help them through this often very trying phase of life. In addition to writing When We Become the Parent to Our Parents, Mary Emma has stories in Finding the Joy in Alzheimer's by Brenda Avadian for North Star Books. Visit eMary Emma's web site at: http://homepage.fcgnetworks.net/jetent/mea;