Anyone else here a caregiver to a disabled partner?
I’m disabled too (autism, schizophrenia, chronic inflammatory conditions) but my partner is severely disabled by ME/CFS and mostly bed bound and home bound. We get help with cleaning and transport (my disability impacts my ability to drive safely) but I do almost all the cooking, plan our meals, order the groceries, decorate our home, and help my partner with everyday tasks like showering, dressing, prompting to take medications, support at appointments etc. My goal is to be the best caregiver and homemaker I can to provide some quality of life to my partner.
For anyone else in a similar situation, what kind of skills and tasks have you found the most helpful? I’m thinking of doing courses in things like cooking, massage, eyebrow waxing or threading, nails, hair, sewing, personal training/lifestyle coaching, nutrition, psychology around pain management, relationships, conflict resolution, acceptance etc. I’m currently studying psychology. Im hopeful that some of these skills would enable me to improve my partners self image and quality of life as well as our relationship.
I am financially supported by family and receive government help so thankfully money is not an issue for us at this point in time.
I’m not someone who is capable of working most jobs without a lot of accommodations so I think that being a homemaker is probably going to be the most rewarding and accessible path for me to take and I want to be good at what I do and feel proud of myself and my work.