Roles Reversed: Taking Care of Your Care Partner
Roles Reversed: Taking Care of Your Care Partner from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.
MPN Empowerment Leads Summer and Jeff are experiencing a bit of a change. Jeff is Summer’s care partner, however the roles have been reversed. Jeff recently had a knee replacement and is unable to do many tasks he was before. Summer has jumped in taking care of Jeff, but admits it’s harder than it looks. Watch and hear Summer’s comedic take on switching roles and stepping into the care partner role.
Want to connect with Jeff and Summer? Email them at question@powerfulpatients.org or text EMPOWER to (833) 213-6657.
Transcript:
Jeff:
Summer! Bring me a snack.
Summer:
Yes, I’m bringing you a chocolate bonbon.
Jeff:
I don’t want a Ghirardelli, I want a Walker’s shortbread.
Summer:
Ugh, yes sir.
Being a caregiver is not a day in the park.
Jeff:
Hi, I’m Jeff.
Summer:
I’m Summer, hi.
Jeff:
We’re your MPN Network Managers for the Patient Empowerment Network. We’re here today to continue talking about caregiving. In the last video, we talked about me being Summer’s caregiver and or different roles and what I bring to that and so on. We had a chance in the last month to actually turn the tables.
In mid-December I had a knee replacement and since then, Summer has been acting as my caregiver. Tell us how it’s been, Summer.
Summer:
Ugh, it’s been exhausting. I’m driving, I’m doing dishes, I’m emptying the garbage, I’m cooking all the meals, I’m getting everything exactly the way you want. You’re lot more of a perfectionist than I am…
Jeff:
Yup, I should be able to drive in another week or so and Summer hates driving, so I really appreciated that. And pretty soon I’ll get back to my role of doing the driving anyway. She’s done a wonderful job, really been very helpful and I’ve been extremely appreciative of it. What’s been the hardest thing for you, Summer?
Summer:
Thinking about all the little things you take for granted that you couldn’t do, like mailing your letters and emptying your garbage. That’s everything, you really have to be on the ball and think of what the needs of the other person really are.
Jeff:
Very true. We stressed that in the last video. Needs of the patient. We have a real supportive relationship in our normal marriage in general, so for us it’s not difficult, but some people may have a difficult time adjusting to being a caregiver or even being a patient.
Summer:
Right.
Jeff:
One thing you have to remember, give the caregiver time for themselves. I think I did a pretty good job trying to give you time for yourself.
Summer:
Yeah, I did my aerobics, I visited friends, I rehearsed for the play, I did my stand-up comedy, yeah, I did.
Jeff:
So, it’s worked well for us. So, as you enter into this relationship of patient and caregiver, be aware of each person’s needs. And, you should have a good experience with it.
Summer:
Darling, I have an urge for a chocolate cookie. Could you bring me one? I gotta take a nap.
Jeff:
Certainly. I’ll get it after we say goodbye to the people. Goodbye, ’til next time.
Summer:
Bye, ’til next time.
