In part 2, we continue the conversation with Patty and Lori. Two women whose partners are the primary caregivers to their parents. If you are a caregiver, we know the feeling of isolation can be overwhelming. You feel like its all on you to take care of your loved one. Its 24/7 and can be grueling, physically and emotionally exhausting. But there is help out there. Just as you surround your patient with total care, there are others, in those outer rings of the concentric circles, that are there to support you. To provide a hand with tasks, or perhaps just a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen. It can be a family member, a friend, a church group, a caregiver support group. But as the caregiver, you have to raise your eyes from the immediate duties and see and seek the help.

If you are a friend, spouse, partner, neighbor of a caregiver, you are in one of those concentric circles. You can lend support, even in the smallest ways to lighten the load of the caregiver. Be sensitive to their needs, be aware of the daily duties that acumulate and ca weigh heavily on a caregiver. Its a long road on the caregiver journey. Even the smallest respite can go along way.

Caregiving can be described as a set of concentric circles, sort of like a bullseye, where the center of the circle is the patient- the focus of everyone's attention. The next circle, or ring, is the primary caregiver, closest to the patient and the most intensely involved. As you move out from the center, other rings emerge, such as the spouse or partner of the caregiver. Then family members , children or siblings could be in the next ring. The next may be friends or neighbors, then support groups or church community. The circles can go on indefinitely, depending on one's social network. In this episode, Fran and John speak with two women who are the partner and spouse of the primary family caregiver. They are in that second ring, in a role to support and encourage their loved one who is the primary caregiver. They describe for us, the challenges and opportunties to provide support to their partner. In addition, Lori and Patty are close long time friends, and have been able to provide support, encouragement and advice to one another as they too navigate caregiving.

We are both profoundly grateful for your listenership and feedback. Knowing that the dialogues we have, and the guests we bring on are helpful to you means the world to us.

We want to wish you all the peace and joy, strength and courage for this holiday season.

We will be back next year, with new guests, and new topics to explore.

Thank you for your encouragement and support. Our mission is to educate and inform, but also to say 'you are not alone'.