This past weekend, I had the good fortune to find myself in the company of ten very inspiring couples. Within each couple, one partner was battling multiple sclerosis and the other partner was their caregiver. The love, devotion and commitment that each couple shared was obvious...and wonderful to be around.
One of the partners with MS told me a story about how she had taken a fall in her bedroom while her husband was at the other end of their house, in his home office. She screamed until he finally thought that he heard something and went to investigate. I asked this woman how she would handle things the next time she fell while her caregiver was elsewhere in their home. She replied, "I guess I'll scream louder."
I suggested that she and her husband stop at their local Radio Shack and purchase a pair of inexpensive wireless intercoms. One could be set up in their bedroom and one could be plugged into the wall in their home office. The unit in their bedroom could be set to automatically pick up any sounds in the room, without any buttons having to be pushed. If my new friend fell again, she could use the intercom to summon her husband without having to lie on the floor screaming and waiting or hoping to be heard. She thought this was a great idea.
This exchange reminded me of all of the tools and resources designed to support caregivers that are available today. So often, caregiver support tends to mean emotional support. But many of us who have been further down the caregiver's path have discovered real tools that can make the job of caring for your loved one easier.
If you're wondering whether there's a tool or resource out there that could immediately alleviate some of the anxiety that you or your loved one may be feeling, there's no need to just lie on the floor screaming, hoping to be heard. Sign up today for a free personal coaching call with me and take the first step towards filling up your caregiver's toolbox.
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