1. Tips for Caring from Someone Who Has Been There Rayna Neises 23:59

This week, Rayna Neises, your host, speaks with Heather Carter.  In 2015, Heather was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.  During her hospitalization and illness, she began updating people on her status via blogging.  Heather shared her fears, struggles, inspiration, and spiritual observations.  Eventually, she was able to find ways to be grateful for what the disease triggered in her and the blog went from updating people on the health and healing of her body to reflecting on the health and healing of her soul. Heather writes about cancer, addiction, and diseases of the soul like worry, fear, control, comparison, and resentment.  Two books have come from her blog, Soul Selfie, and Soul Selfie: #nofilter.  She shares the following about her season of being cared for:

  • (3:45)  How others react does affect the health as well as the spiritual and emotional wellbeing of the person who is sick.
  • (4:03)  Remember to just be with the person you are caring for.
  • (5:25)  Treat the person regularly and do regular life stuff.
  • (6:30)  Ask them what they want and need.  
  • (9:16)  It is okay to show that you are sad and that you feel sad for the person who is ill.
  • (11:30)  You have to stay in good mental, spiritual, and physical health, or you will not be able to continue to care for the person.
  • (12:04)  Support from a community is critical for the Caregiver and the one being cared for.
  • (21:44)  Find Heather’s blog posts (sorts available by topic) and links to purchase her books on her website www.heathercarterwrites.com.  
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.