November 13th is Kindness Day. Perhaps we can take today as a point in time to make a change in our habits and reach out to caregivers in our lives!
Many caregivers share that they feel alone and isolated. While family members and friends often ask how the care recipient is doing, they don’t always think to ask how the caregiver is doing. The Ontario caregiver organization has launched a kindness campaign to share how this simple gesture of kindness can make the difference in their day.
Sara Shearkhani is a caregiver who tells her view on small gestures and how it can mean so much to someone who is having a difficult day:
“I had to educate myself on what it means to be a caregiver. Why it can be depressing, frustrating, and tiring. I discovered other caregivers were having these feelings too. When a friend reached out and asked how I was managing while I was at a low point, I felt seen. This small kindness lifted me up.”
The goal of the Kindness Campaign is to encourage people to reach out to a caregiver so they feel less isolated and alone. You can ask them how their day was, what’s new for them, or just let them know that you’re thinking of them. It all starts with a phone call or a knock on the door.
Spread this idea among your friends, family, networks to give a little light in people’s day.