One Caregiver’s Journey is all about Eleanor Gaccetta’s almost forty-year career ceased when her mother fell and broke her hip at age 92.
Thus began Ellie’s journey of being a 24/7 sole caregiver for her mother for the next nine and one-half years.
Family caregivers throughout the United States provide critical support to adults with disabling, chronic, or otherwise severe health conditions. Each year, about forty (40) million American adults give consent with basic functions (e.g., help with bathing and eating), household (e.g., meal preparation, assistance with shopping), and medical tasks to aid individuals in remaining in their homes and communities as long as possible. Out of the 40 million family caregivers, about 1/4 are part of the Millennial generation.
A change in family structure is one reason for many millennial caregivers, said Dr. Gretchen Alkema, the Vice President of Policy and Communications at the SCAN Foundation, which provides grants for aging-related projects.
The Millennial generation is changing how people answer the question, “Who is a family caregiver?” A new perspective on caregiving is on the rise as people experience the shift of generations aging. Learning how the next generation of caregivers responds to the emotional, physical, and mental stress they experience gives people an insight into the future of caregiving. Even more, how can people lighten the load they carry? What can people do to help them thrive as individuals?
The Impact of Social Media on Millennial Caregivers
The use of social media in healthcare continues to evolve. Social media is applications and websites that enable users to share and create content or participate in social networking. Social media use in healthcare to increase communication speed, distribute accurate information, and promote knowledge of treatments, support, and self-care options is becoming more widespread. Patient- and family-centered healthcare acknowledges that patients and their informal caregivers are central to decision-making and care delivery. It recognizes that caregivers and patients exist within an online social network and structure of relationships. Social media tools, such as educational material, real-time communication platforms, and self-management guides, are now more commonly incorporated into decision-making to help caregivers make informed decisions about their loved one’s care.
There is an increasing evidence base to support the use of social media among millennial caregivers of critically ill patients. There is unexploited potential for social media tools to provide personalized support to millennial caregivers. Social media tools enable millennial caregivers to gain the knowledge they need to feel involved, empowered, and satisfied. In totality social media represents a flexible medium to deliver individualized support, and health information that caregivers can obtain through social media may foster an invaluable collaborative relationship when tendering to critically ill patients.
Millennial social media users should exercise caution on networking sites and applications to not compromise patient privacy. Many networking sites and group chat sites are filled with people who do not have caregiving experience. Advice is often given without medical, social or personal knowledge of the individual’s situation. Compromising patient privacy is a problem, but acting on the wrong advice could have long lasting consequences. Exercise caution.
One Caregiver’s Journey By Eleanor Gaccetta
If you are a caregiver or about to become a caregiver, “One Caregiver’s Journey” is a MUST read. This personal memoir will make you laugh or tug at your heart as the author shares her experiences providing 24/7 care to her mother for 9 ½ years until her mother’s death at age 102. The author wrote the book over a long period, and it is a snapshot of the reality of the stages, changes, and many challenges caregivers face over time. It is a caregiver’s blueprint. Reading this book, you will feel like you are in the author’s living room, and she is telling her story and offering great advice and information.
Formally, Ellie was a legislative and policy analyst for the State of Colorado, the City, and the County of Broomfield, and after leaving government services, she was a private contractor. Her almost forty-year career ceased when her mother fell and broke her hip at age 92.
Thus began Ellie’s journey of being a 24/7 sole caregiver for her mother for the next nine and one-half years. During that time, her book One Caregiver’s Journey was born with personal memories, insight, and advice for caregivers. The book is a snapshot of caregiving’s realities, changes, and challenges. During the six months after her mother’s passing at age 102, Ellie journaled about her reintegration back into the world.