Cinema Conquers Caregiver Blues
Posted on 29. Aug, 2009 by T.S. Linden in Boomer Views, Gen-X Caregivers ™
KEYS TO PARADISE OR THE PRISON WARD?
Caregivers often feel imprisoned. Rightly so, it is taxing on the body and soul to always be homebound in 24/7 service to your loved care receiver. The stress is nearly blinding at times and the chronic nature of it is what evokes the common feeling of being in a prison ward.
PRISON TIME
We recognize that there are caregivers faced with limited financial resources or social networks to call into action in the short run. And this results in a period of isolation until the caregiver team is developed and a caregiver action plan is implemented that provides for respite and a balance.
KEYS TO PARADISE
Hidden in the prisoner´s dilemma are the keys to paradise. These are the keys to the cinema. Cinema brings together a much needed dive into the world of story. It generates a way to share in conversation with the care receiver far beyond the day to day medical needs of the care receiver.
It also cultivates the mind, stimulates dialogue and keeps you connected with peers and opens up fresh doors to others. There are many on-line communities and forums which discuss film. It reaches into the soul. Film can be paradise.
Cinema Paradiso: Ennio Morricone
STORY TELLING LESSONS
There is also the ability to learn about the art of story telling, which comes in handy as you and your care receiver document your own journeys. For both the elders and caregivers it serves as a means to relate stories and inner feelings via the characters they see. This can ease some of the tension that builds between two loved ones faced with a chronically difficult situation.
WHERE TO START
As a caregiver, this homebound situation opens up the chance to explore a wide variety of film genres across the entire history of film. Here is a great list of the top 1000:
http://www.icheckmovies.com/list/they+shoot+pictures+dont+they/
BANISH LATE FEES, INFINITE LIBRARY + GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE
You say you have no time to get to the video store, well there are other options. The one which is a great offering of titles, zero late fees and has friendly customer service is NetFlix.
Check them out, they deliver to your door and you can repost them back from your post office box, where that service exists in your community.
http://www.netflix.com/