From Strength to Strength: Scriptures to Encourage You in the New Year

 

Living from Strength to Strength

When our middle son suffered a spinal cord injury in 1997, we refused both a push for euthanasia and a nursing home for him. In more than twenty-five years of caregiving, we've never looked back. We have learned much about the value of life, the comfort or our God, and the joy of serving a beloved son. 

Like all families, ours has weathered its share of storms. 

We had no idea how we were going to navigate the changes in our lives as a result of Kevin's injury. The path ahead seemed impassible. In fact, we were told repeatedly it would be impossible to care for him at home. But we stepped into the unknown, and God met us there. It has been a long and fearsome crossing through the valley of the shadow, but the Lord has been our light every step of the way. We have been blessed and honored to be a part of God's great work of lifegiving. Jesus...and Kevin...have taught us much about living out our faith in brokenness. 

In the coming year, we pray that the Lord will bring you peace, comfort, and strength as you arise each day to care for a loved one. May you rest in the knowledge you are God's hands and feet and heart for the hurting. As you sacrifice for others, may you remember the Savior's sacrifice for you and rejoice that He cared that much. 

Below are eleven Bible verses we lean on in the tough times. May you be blessed and strengthened for your caregiving journey in the coming new year!

1. Psalm 34:5-7

I sought the LORD and He answered me,

And rescued me from all my fears.

They looked to Him and were radiant,

And their faces will never be ashamed.

This wretched man cried out, and the LORD heard him,

And saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him.

And rescues them.

2. Psalm 34:18

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted

And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

3. Hebrews 6:10

For God is not unjust so as to forget your work

and the love which you have shown toward His name,

in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

4. Romans 8:18

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time

 are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 

5. Ephesians 6:11

Put on the full armor of God,

so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

6. Romans 14:4

To his own master he stands or falls;

and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

7. 2 Chronicles 16:9

For the eyes of the LORD roam throughout the earth,

so that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.

 

8. Matthew 25:35-40

For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat;

 I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; 

I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 

naked, and you clothed Me; 

I was sick, and you visited Me; 

I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 

Then the righteous will answer Him,

 ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?

 And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 

And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 

And the King will answer and say to them, 

‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’

9. Matthew 11:28-29

Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls. 

For my yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.

10. Psalm 18:2

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer,

 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;

 My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

11. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable,

 always excelling in the work of the Lord, 

knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Combating Clostridium difficile at Home

 

One Hospital's Success and How It Can Help Caregivers

When a 410-bed hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, faced a high rate of hospital-acquired C difficile infections (HO CDI), it decided to tackle the problem head on. Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital leadership assembled a diverse team of professionals to develop strategies to combat HO CDI in its facility.

Clostridium difficile is a bacteria spread by the oral-fecal route. Antibiotic use raises the risk, particularly in vulnerable and older patients. It strikes approximately half a million people each year. Though usually considered an infection acquired in hospital settings, the team discovered that many patients already had C diff upon admission, underscoring its risk in the community setting.

After investigating the causes of the hospital’s cases between 2014-2016, the team developed the following infection prevention interventions:

*Better diagnostic stewardship. Nurses were allowed to test any loose, unformed stools within the first three days of admission.

*Enhanced environmental cleaning. A more effective sporicidal disinfectant was incorporated in the daily cleaning routine for ALL rooms, not just isolation rooms.

*More judicious use of antimicrobials for infection. Medications called fluoroquinolones were removed from standalone orders and only given when approved through certain channels. Medicines in this category raise the risk of contracting Clostridium difficile.

*Education of staff. The team incorporated training with enhanced communication to bring the best practices for infection control to the forefront.

*Accountability. Staff meetings were held to increase compliance with the new measures.

One year after incorporating these changes, infection rates had dropped 63%. After three years, infection rates had dropped 77%.

The team found the single most effective infection control intervention was handwashing. Simple, thorough washing with water and soap. Alcohol hand gels are not effective.

How can this help patients and their caregivers at home?

Besides the obvious benefit of clinical infection control for its inpatients, caregivers can learn from and incorporate some of this hospital's interventions at home.

This study clearly showed that C diff is a community problem, as well as an institutional one. As obvious as it might seem, the most important things we can do for our loved ones are often the simple ones.

*Wash our hands often and well. Use soap and warm water. Rinse thoroughly. Keep a roll of paper towels at each sink and use them instead of one household towel to dry. Sure, this costs money, but it’s a small price to stop the spread of disease.

*Keep the home clean. This boosts both our emotional and physical well-being. Not all cleaning products kill C diff but can help with general infection control. If you have C diff infection, do your research to find a home-approved product that kills their spores.

*Discuss the administration of fluoroquinolones with the medical provider and resist their over-prescription if C diff has been a problem. Have a respectful conversation and get the necessary answers to your questions. 

You, as a caregiver, are the most important member of the healthcare team caring for your loved one. You are the first-line of defense against infection. Your efforts to give your loved one quality care are not just necessary. They’re vital. Never feel you are “just” the caregiver. Your concerns, questions, and observations are critical to providing the best care possible for your family.

This article is for general information only and not meant to take the place of regular medical care or a physician's advice.

Study information gleaned from an original article in the American Journal of Infection Control, as presented on Medscape.org.

Finding Joy in the Journey

 

The caregiver's life often offers precious little opportunity for respite and interaction with others. The pandemic has made this especially challenging, since infection control involves social distancing when your loved one is vulnerable to illness. This isolates us from the usual activities and support systems we employ to help us survive and thrive in our circumstances. 

Caregivers are resourceful, though. 

We're adept at adapting to change.

At our house, we learned to make home our vacation destination. Before our son Kevin's spinal cord injury in 1997, we loved our frequent family trips, and we especially enjoyed the National Parks. One of my husband's favorite places to visit was Yellowstone National Park. 

When we became full-time caregivers, our traveling stopped. We adapted by opening our home to friends and family. Over the years, we hosted many barbecues, dinners, holiday celebrations, and themed birthday parties. If we couldn't go have fun, we brought the fun to us.

Then a pandemic hit town and my back gave out. Life drastically changed for us in the last few years. Our outside activities now mostly consist of grocery and take-out runs. Trips are not an option. I can't even throw myself into my gardening like I used to. 

But life has to be more than survival. 

Last year, feeling nostalgic for our old haunts, I invited my husband along on a "roadtrip" through the National Parks as we work together on puzzles of our favorite haunts. He liked the idea, so we set up a cozy corner of our living room with a rustic table, stools, and warm Edison lights. 

Kevin loved the idea and surprised us with a beautiful hardcover coffee table book of the National Parks to enrich our journey. Since then, this corner has become our ticket to relive some of our happiest family memories as we travel from park to park and city to city. Whether it's hiking around Glacier Park, admiring the Redwoods, or watching Old Faithful spew, we can enjoy the beauty of our world without leaving the comfort of our living room. 

When we're not on a trip, the corner serves as a place to "eat out" or play a game of checkers. What we do isn't as important as the moments we spend together. 

A bonus is the small effort we have to expend in the process. We're always tired. With an inviting corner waiting for us, we're more likely to take advantage of the chance to take a small break together. We also have a couple of tables and chairs in our favorite spots outside to share coffee and "break time," if the weather permits. We discovered that a table under the large trellis on the back deck served as a pleasant outdoor "cafe" where we shared dessert or a plate of cheese and crackers. Often we only had time for a cup of coffee. 

The important thing, we learned, is to make the world stop for a moment, so we can just be...alive. Together.

When things are going well, it's easy to take the small joys for granted. When life is hard, it's crucial to find the joy where we live.

Maybe puzzles and board games aren't your thing. What could you do to bring more joy into your caregiving experience? What could you change to make your world a more welcome place to live?

If you've already been doing this for some time, we'd love to hear your ideas. What has worked for you?