What is the " It" in Keeping It Together, the title of my book? You, as a family caregiver, may think "it" refers to having the resources required to provide the best care for your chronically ill family member. As a human being, you may think "it" means maintaining a healthy state of mind. As the author of Keeping It Together, I consider "it" in the context of you as a human being who is caregiving.
Being a caregiver is hard work and depending on the needs, the job could require 24/7 attention. Even if the physical job is not around the clock, the worries could be around the clock. You may be worrying about a family member who lives alone, has limited mobility and is resisting any help. Whether physically or mentally, caring for others can take" it's" toll on you as a human being.
In most cases, you have not signed up to be a caregiver for your family member. Whether by choice or by default, you likely take on the role dutifully as an obligation, assuring that your family member receives the best quality care. If you are providing most of the care, you may even lose your"self" in the process as you become immersed in the role.
Where is the humanity if "it" gets lost in the caregiving? "It" is remembering that we are only human. "It" is keeping in mind that "it" takes a village to provide care for our frail and vulnerable aging family members.
Back to the question...What is the "It" in Keeping It Together?
"It" is a juggling act to cope, doing the family caregiving to the best of your ability without losing your "self" in the process. You can acknowledge, assess, assist for yourself by previewing the book: