Our Social Pillar of Care artwork
Your Future Self

Our Social Pillar of Care

  • S1E3
  • 28:39
  • February 5th 2024

What are your priorities when planning for your future care?

In this episode of Your Future Self we introduce you to our Social Pillar of Care.

All too often, and unnecessarily, caregiving is a lonely undertaking for you and your loved one.

Over time and all too often, caregiving breeds isolation. Loss of social outlets and limited interactions with family and friends are common which can lead to depression and despair.

While caregiving can be hard, there are great joys too.

Our Social Pillar will provide you with the tools to help you stay connected to your hobbies, your friends, and your family and how to create a care team to help alleviate some of the caregiving burden and maintain those vital social ties.

Download Your Future Self Social Pillar of Care tips for this episode HERE

Summary

In this episode, hosts Christopher MacLellan and Monica Stinchula discuss the social side of caregiving and the potential hazards of social distancing. They explore the impact of caregiving on identity and perception of danger, as well as the concept of compassion fatigue and emotional bankruptcy. The hosts emphasize the importance of moving forward after caregiving and taking care of one's social self. They also discuss the changes in relationships that occur during and after caregiving and the five stages of grief. The episode concludes with a focus on rebuilding social connections and engaging in self-reflection.

Takeaways

  • Social distancing can lead to a potential hazard of cutting oneself off from others, emphasizing the importance of maintaining social connections.
  • Caregivers often lose their identity and purpose in the midst of caregiving, and it is important to prioritize self-care.
  • The caregiving experience can impact one's perception of danger and lead to feelings of numbness and desensitization.
  • Compassion fatigue and emotional bankruptcy are common among caregivers, and it is important to recognize and address these issues.
  • Moving forward after caregiving involves rebuilding one's life and social connections and taking action to create a fulfilling future.
  • Rebuilding social connections is vital for caregivers, and it is important to nurture authentic relationships that provide support and companionship.

Chapters

00:00

The Potential Hazards of Social Distancing

06:26

Losing Identity and Purpose as a Caregiver

09:00

The Impact of Caregiving on Perception of Danger

13:14

Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Bankruptcy

16:20

Moving Forward After Caregiving

18:26

Taking Care of Your Social Self

22:11

Relationship Changes After Caregiving

24:25

The Five Stages of Grief

26:01

Moving from Acceptance to Action

Your Future Self

Do you live everyday with a sense of fulfillment and joy?

Do you understand that helping others should not hurt you?

Brought to you by Credit for Caring and The Whole Care Network, Monica Stynchula and Christopher MacLellan team up once again for a lively discussion on how and why planning for your future care now, is in your control!

We believe it is necessary to say NO sometimes, we'll teach you how to do that. In fact, we will urge you to fill your cup before you fill up others (a very hard concept for caregivers to embrace). And lastly, we discuss the mistakes we made by not putting ourselves first.

Growing up in the 1960's aging was "Far Out."

Planning for your future care now, can start today!

Monica Stynchula avatar
Monica Stynchula
Co-Host

Monica is the Founder and CEO of REUNIONCare, Inc. a health information technology company and Credit For Caring caregiver marketplace partnering with Medline Industries. She is the Executive Director of the Caregiver Accelerator helping 43 companies enter the $72 billion caregiving marketplace.

She was a featured speaker at the 2017 Seoul 50 Plus International Forum in Seoul, South Korea and 2018 Ancona, Italy world premier Longevity and Blue Zone InnovAging symposium as well as many domestic caregiving conferences. Her company, REUNIONCare was a finalist for the 2019 International SilverEco Ageing Well Innovation Award in Tokyo, Japan.

Christopher MacLellan avatar
Christopher MacLellan
Co-Host

Affectionately known as “The Bow Tie Guy" in the vast network of family caregivers, Christopher MacLellen is the Author of "What's The Deal with Caregiving" and the host of Healing Ties podcast featured on The Whole Care Network and Co-Host of How We Got Hear, Your Future Self and It Takes A Team to Care podcast.

The story of Chris and his deceased partner, Richard Schiffer was chronicled in a 2015 Pulitzer Prize nominated story “In Sickness and In Health: A Couple’s Final Journey” about their journey of caregiving. Seen by over 500,000 people world-wide the story told of the challenges that LGBT partners have in dealing with the medical and legal system, but it also told of the love and joy that Richard’s last years had on their relationship.

Chris' masters degree thesis, Caregiving, Stress and its Impact on the Work Place was accepted by the faculty at Gonzaga University in 2016 where he earned a masters degree in Leadership and Communication.

Chris founded the Whole Care Network in 2016, presents regularly on topics that impact family Caregivers and now is Aging Gayfully after caregiving has ended.