What Does Care Partnership Look Like?
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The care partner role is different for everyone. What it looks like depends on many things: your relationship to your loved one, their symptoms and needs, how they want to be supported, what you feel comfortable offering, where you both are in life, what else is going on in your own lives and more.
Anyone can be a care partner: a spouse, a child, a relative, a friend or a neighbor. You might live with the person you care for, or you might live in another state or country. You could be the primary care partner, providing most or all support. Or you may be part of a larger care partner team that includes family, friends and professional caregivers.
Some care partners might assist their loved one around the clock. Some might help for a few hours a day, like when medication wears off or during the night. Other care partners may provide only a few hours of support every week or month. Others may not be a care partner full time but stand ready to support the primary care partner as needed.
Becca is one of my closest friends. I live in Brooklyn, and she lives in New Haven, about 80 miles away. I was there for her when she had deep brain stimulation surgery, but I’ m not involved in her day-to-day care. I’ m a friend who checks in and is there when she needs to talk. She knows I’ m always here if she needs me. And I know she’ s there for me, too.
Julie Porter
Throughout this guide, we share perspectives from different types of care partners: adult children caring for parents, parents caring for adult children, spouses, partners, friends and those caring across long distances. Every care partner relationship is unique, and we hope sharing these stories helps you see yourself and know that you are not alone in your care partner journey.
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