How to build a caregiving  network  is one of the biggest problems we face as care givers.

We think we can do it all, or most of it, until we are faced with the ultimate problem we can't deal with on our own.

That problem happened to me last Saturday night.  My mom was in the middle of the floor and couldn't get up.  My dad called me for help because he couldn't lift her.

To be honest, I couldn't lift her either, although somehow I managed to do it- that time.

My back hurt and I was worried I had done something to it, but it's okay for now.

Which brings us to something we really need to face.  How to get help and how to ask for help.

We all need a network of close friends or relatives or neighbors or fellow church members we can call who will come and not resent us for asking for help. 

Now is the time to compile that list of people before disaster happens on a Saturday night at 8:30 PM .

After you've made your list, call each person individually and explain your situation.  Tell them you may need to call them in the future and if they think that will be a problem, tell you now.

(You can talk to them diplomatically, of course)

But the important thing is to get the list with the phone numbers and to let those people know they are on your list.

Also- you never know when you can return the favors for them.  There are lots of good turns you will probably be able to do  for them.

After all, we're all in this together.

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