A care partner, as a caregiver, it can be challenging and exhausting to find meaning in life amidst the chaos and turmoil of illness. In questioning the very point of life, an existential crisis, or dread, we lose the feeling of safety and control. Our predictable world is thrown out of balance. Illness can bring the world to its knees.
The past year, with the pandemic and its accompanying effects, presented a higher emotional mountain to climb. What has it been like for you?
The path toward restoring a life in balance is in many ways a journey toward precisely what is challenging: creating meaning; discovering purpose. Crystallizing what we value can help in this rebalancing act. As we let go of the need to honor false promises of perfection or to meet others’ expectations, we make room for exploring our own ways of knowing and moving through our days. The beauty in this exploration is that it looks unique for each person. As we soften the expectations we hold for ourselves, we can simultaneously soften the expectations we have for those we live with, love, and care for.
Welcome to HEART at HOME Newsletter
It is the hope of our ElderHealth team that care partners and caregivers will be supported by the contents of Heart at Home. We offer the knowledge that you are not alone. We offer connection with others experiencing the journey through a long goodbye.
We offer education, guidance, and the support of community healthcare partners. We offer creative expression. We offer a space for your own personal life experiences, the ones that strengthen you as you seek—and find—a life of meaning and purpose.
We welcome your comments and feedback for future issues. We especially hope you consider submitting an entry for our “Reader Connections” sections. Share with us at EHNewsletter@ElderHealthAtHome.com.
Sincerely,
Laura Aylmer, LCSW, APHSW-C
Laura Aylmer, LCSW, APHSW-C
Laura Aylmer, LCSW, is a clinical social worker certified in Palliative and Hospice Social Work at the advanced practice level. With over 20 years of experience, Laura brings an empathetic and holistic approach to supporting patients, families, and caregivers as they journey through various stages of chronic and progressive illness. She values time with her family and uses walks in nature, journal writing, and music as paths to peace and well-being.
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