Processing the Grief of Caregiving

Processing the Grief of Caregiving Rayna Neises 23:59

Rayna Neises, your host, interviews Kari Bartkus. After seeing too many people go through hardship alone, Kari was determined to show up and be present with those around her who were hurting. She started the organization Love Does That where she serves as a spiritual director to hurting women. Kari uses a modern-day letter-writing approach for those drawn to quiet spaces and written words. She shares the following insights:

[3:00] Grief is any kind of loss that we are experiencing.
[5:00] The person receiving care is grieving too and they might not be aware of that.
[6:00] Processing is the act of slowing down and thinking about what is going on.
[10:26] A warning sign that you are not processing the Grief is when you quickly turn your attention somewhere else.
[11:21] Grief will show up in your body.
[13:43] An outside perspective can help identify changes that have happened.
[17:23] Handling other people’s comments takes knowing where you are at and how you process.
[20:02] If you do not know, try different things, and just pay attention to what helps you and what does not.
[21:17] Grief changes over time.
[22:19] Download a free Grief journal at www.LoveDoesThat.org/griefjournal.

Rayna Neises A Season of Caring

Rayna Neises understands the joys and challenges that come from a season of caring. She helped care for both of her parents during their separate battles with Alzheimer’s over a thirty-year span. She is able to look back on those days now with no regrets – and she wishes the same for everyone caring for aging parents.

Rayna is the author of No Regrets: Hope for Your Caregiving Season, an ICF certified coach, the host of “A Season of Caring” podcast, Positive Approach® to Care (PAC)Independent Certified Trainer and speaker who is passionate about offering encouragement, support, and resources for regret-free caring aimed at preventing family caregivers from aimlessly wandering through this important season of life.

Rayna lives on a farm in southeast Kansas with her husband, Ron, and small pack of adorable dogs. She is the baby of her family, but most would never guess that. She is a former teacher who enjoys crafts of all kinds and spending time with her grandkids most of all.