Gary Barg: It’s
a great book.
Rosalynn Carter:
We get more comments about that than
anything else I do, because I think
all caregivers feel guilty. I’ve
been there and I know how guilty I
felt about my mother. And just to
know that it’s okay and that
everybody feels that way. There’s no
need to be – people need some life
of their own. They need to take care
of themselves. I think that’s one of
the most important things to get
across to caregivers.
Gary Barg:
What’s the one most important piece
of advice that you’d like to offer
family caregivers?
Rosalynn Carter:
I think it’s to take care of
yourself, and not feel guilty about
it. Also, caregivers need to educate
themselves about the illness they
are dealing with. But you know,
family caregivers don’t really have
a lot of time for research. And
that’s one thing we’re working on at
the Rosalynn Carter Institute. Our
state is doing what we call a
Georgia Scorecard on long-term care.
And we’re working with AARP to
develop five or six questions to go
to caregivers asking them what they
need, so then we can provide the
Webinars and publications that will
help them the most. If we get these
questions and the answers and know
what is most needed, then we can
provide it through the state to our
CARE-NET organizations so it can be
distributed across the state. I
think it must be at a national
level, too.
