“You need to take care of yourself, so that you can take care of somebody else,” caregiver and St. John’s Meadows Resident Barbara Smith told local news outlets on National Caregiver Day, February 21.
“It’s frustrating at times. There are stresses involved. I have to do everything for myself and everything for my husband.”
Smith has been a caregiver for her husband Bill for seven years and lives at St. John’s Meadows. Bill is a member of the Dementia Caregiver Respite Program. This free weekly program provides respite to community caregivers like Barbara Smith while their loved one participates in stimulating social activities and engagement.
“[Members] look forward to coming every week,” said St. John’s Vice President of Marketing Jennifer Lesinski. “They can get fellowship, engagement, and activities – and the caregiver themselves gets to have some free time.”
The Dementia Caregiver Respite Program is now in its second year, but St. John’s initiative to help local caregivers has gone back several years.
“National Caregivers Day is very close to our hearts here at St. John’s,” said Lesinski. “About four years ago during COVID, we started an initiative that was aimed at supporting specifically caregivers whose loved ones have dementia.”
Lesinski and Smith agree that respite and resources are vital in the caregiving process.
“As a caregiver, you can’t have enough resources — I’ve decided,” said Smith, who can take time to herself on days that her husband is at the respite program.
“If we can’t help these caregivers fill up their buckets, they’re not going to be good caregivers,” Lesinski said. “They’re not going to be able to support their loved ones, which they need to do and want to do.”
