“Caring for our seniors is perhaps the greatest responsibility we have. Those who walked before us have given so much and made possible the life we all enjoy.” — Senator John Hoeven
Recognizing the Caregiver
One of the first documented cases of caregiving dates back to the Old Testament, when Ruth cared for her mother-in-law, Naomi. I am certain there were caregivers ever since there were people, but this is the earliest writing that references a caregiver.
Caregivers play such an important and vital role in society – it is really nice to see how appreciated they have become. While this is true, it is disappointing that their importance was brought to light only due to the worldwide pandemic that has already affected and claimed the lives of so many.
Why We Appreciate All Caregivers
A lot of the work that professional caregivers perform is not complicated. Helping someone get out of bed, assisting them in the bathroom, helping them get showered or bathed, preparing a meal and assisting with feeding if necessary, etc. – all are tasks that most people perform for themselves when healthy. The challenge with this work is not just completing the aforementioned tasks, but doing it with kindness, compassion, and love.
Even as I write this, this type of work is still referred to as ‘unskilled’ and ‘non-medical’ by some. While the dispute between ‘medical’ and ‘non-medical’ is understandable, referring to this work and the people that perform it as unskilled greatly minimizes the importance of their job.
To all of the caregivers out there – whether you are a parent caring for a child, a spouse caring for a spouse, or a professional caregiver caring for a client – we thank and salute you for everything that you are doing and know your work is valuable, meaningful and, to some, life-changing. THANK YOU!
