Building Community & Relationships Within Caregiver Social Isolation & Loneliness
Have you ever heard the saying, "you can't pour from an empty cup?" Only, family caregivers are constantly operating on an empty cup because it can be a very lonely and socially isolating experience. Although family, friends and respite care provide relief and surround caregivers with support, it never seems to be enough. Our society is not the best at recognizing that those who are being cared for- whether they be chronically ill or disabled- face a significant amount of stigma and social barriers to maintaining relationships, leaving caregivers some of the only people who socially interact on a regular basis. "Building Community & Relationships within Caregiver Social Isolation & Loneliness" is not only an opportunity to learn about how our social systems in society prevent connection, but how we can overcome our own biases through self-awareness to create more intentional and compassionate support for those in the caregiving experience. Because in the words of the late Rosalynn Carter, you either are a caregiver, you will be a caregiver, you have been a caregiver, or you will be cared for.
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Presented May 16, 2024
Presented by Sarah Rasby, Graduate Researcher/PhD Scholar
Sarah Rasby is a Graduate Researcher and 3rd Year PhD Student at the University of Nebraska. Having been a family caregiver to her parents alongside their cancer journeys and her twin sister's experience with a severe brain injury, she knows first hand the burden, challenges and joys that come with caregiving. Her research aim is for family caregivers to become powerful advocates for themselves and the people they are caring for along with building personal resilience and meaningful support networks to achieve optimal well-being. Her research focuses on how family caregivers- specifically caregivers to adults with acquired cognitive impairment- can become empowered by understanding the context of their experiences through the transformative lens of disability stigma theory, meaning making theory, and self-compassion practices. Sarah has a vision that one day ALL caregivers will feel supported and confident knowing that they have everything they need to care for their loved ones and themselves in the best way possible.
This session is part of the Education Series for the Family Caregiver, hosted by The Nebraska Caregiver Coalition.
