The Sanders IMPACT Center held Grand Rounds on Tuesday focusing on the role of caregivers. Shauna Moore, whose husband Ciaran suffered a life-changing traumatic brain injury nearly three years ago, shared what the experience has been like for her and her family with a group of students and faculty in 1CW.
She explained how her life has changed and answered questions about her typical day and what she does to take care of herself. Like many caregivers, her days are incredibly busy and there is not a lot of time, even with a strong support system of friends and family.
For third-year DEN student Ilan Millstrom, it was an opportunity to understand the caregiver perspective in supporting their loved ones and apply these lessons to another clinical learning experience in which Ilan is involved — the Sanders IPC’ Parkinson’s disease caregiver support group. “It’s really helpful to hear the perspective of everything that is going on at home from a caregiver,” said Millstrom. “One thing that comes up a lot in the [Parkinson’s support] group is people not having time and deferring their own needs” which is something Moore shared about her own situation.
“As someone who is not a caregiver, in my mind, I thought it was an issue with people not prioritizing themselves but it was helpful to hear the details of someone’s day,” explained Millstrom, who expressed their broader understanding of the role caregivers play. “At the end of the day, caregivers may be so tired that they might not have the energy to reach out to a professional .”