Caretaker to Undertaker

Being a caretaker is a very demanding and exhausting job to perform. Certainly, being a dedicated provider for someone, usually a family member, is quite rewarding; however, the caretaker function can halt or delay your livelihood and your ability to generate an income. The Merriam-Webster defines the word caretaker in several ways.

· One that gives physical or emotional care and support.

· One that takes care of the house or land of an owner who may be absent.

· One temporarily fulfilling the function of office.

The definition that I wanted to focus on and discuss is the first on the above list. Those of you that have been a dedicated caretaker for another person can certainly relate to the emotional and physical drain this can have on your normal activities and livelihood. I have a lot of years of experience working on an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and have seen how much of a toll a family experiences when caring for those with physical injuries and disabilities. Identified caretakers generally dedicate all their energy and resources when they take on the care of a person who cannot take care of themselves. Over my years of working on an ICU, I have seen how much wear and tear that caretakers have brought upon themselves. Caring for someone, especially someone who cannot do anything, or very little for themselves, can…