Prayer for Caregivers
Caregivers walk their own unique path through chronic illness.
A caregivers role can be both rewarding and exhausting, difficult and joy-filled, meaningful and frustrating, isolating and inspiring. Wherever you are on the journey, we’re so glad you’re here! Step into hope, find purpose, embrace worth, and encounter God’s joy.
Chronic Joy Ministry offers awareness materials for caregivers, which highlight the significant impact of illness on every aspect of life -marriage, family, faith, finances, friendships, education, hobbies and work.
These quick easy fact sheets can be used with those in your sphere of influence – friends, family, churches, small groups, co-workers and neighbors.
The DID YOU KNOW? Awareness Campaign features images posted across our social media platforms –Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. LIKE or FOLLOW Chronic Joy to see us in your feed. Then like and share to spread the word and grow awareness.
Begin the conversation with the question, DID YOU KNOW? and you will be changing the landscape for more than half of the world’s population who live with chronic physical illness, for the 1 in 5 who live with mental illness, and for all those caring for someone with a chronic physical or mental illness.
Together, as we raise awareness, increase knowledge, and utilize educational materials tailored for all who are affected by chronic illness, we will also be shattering stigma and isolation, reminding each other that while caring for a loved one is hard, there is hope.
There is always hope.
DID YOU KNOW?
4 in 10 people are caring for a loved one with significant health issues.
More than 65 million people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member.
36% of family caregivers care for a parent or loved one over 50 years old.
Family caregivers spend an average of 24.4 hours per week providing care.
Nearly 1 in 4 caregivers spends 41 hours or more per week providing care.
1 in 7 (16.8 million) caregivers care for special needs children.
Caregivers have been in their role for an average of 4.6 years, with three in ten having given care to their loved one for five years or more (31%).
23% of family caregivers caring for loved ones for 5 years or more report their health is fair or poor.
40% to 70% of family caregivers have clinically significant symptoms of depression with approximately a 25% to 50% of these caregivers meet the diagnostic criteria for major depression.
More than 2 in 10 (21%) of family caregivers report that caregiving has caused their physical health to deteriorate.
Click here for detailed statistics.
Being There: How to Love Those Who Are Hurting
Dave Furman
We all know people suffering from sickness, disability, depression, or grief. Where are we to find strength in such circumstances? Dave Furman offers support, encouragement, and wisdom for those called to care for others in need – equipping us to effectively care for the hurting and pointing us to the strength that God provides.
Blessings And Prayers for Caregivers
Annetta Dellinger
This book provides encouragement for the realities of daily care giving challenges. Through brief Gospel-focused readings and Scripture verses, this small book offers refreshment and renewal for the exhausted caregiver. Each reading focuses on Jesus as the source of our hope and strength. Blessings and Prayers for Caregivers can be tucked in a pocket or a purse to go with you wherever you are and to be at your fingertips whenever you have a minute or two and need a word of encouragement.
Don't Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart: How to Relate to Those Who are Suffering
Kenneth C. Haugk, PhD
An essential guide on how to care for and relate to people as they encounter difficult times in life. This book draws on extensive research of those who have experienced various kinds of suffering in their lives, offering key insights and suggestions of what to say and do—and what not to say or do—when people are hurting. With its biblical foundation, compassionate approach, and concrete ideas, this book will help you bring God’s loving presence to hurting people when they need it most.
A Spirituality of Caregiving
Henri J.M. Nouwen
If you provide care for another person, whether you are a family member or a professional caregiver, you know that caregiving is hard, sometimes unappreciated work. But have you ever considered that it isn t easy to be the care receiver?
Blog Posts
Your Pain Comes with Possibilities
It Seemed Like A Good Idea It seemed like a good idea at the time. They would borrow the camping gear collecting dust in the garage, and they would head to the mountains to enjoy a night under the stars. Two college buddies enjoying the great outdoors. Trevor, the young man who...
When Chronic Illness Affects Relationships – Part 2
Relationships with chronically ill people, whether they are partners, friends, or family members can be difficult. It’s easy to feel frustrated and begin to resent them. In Part 1, I mentioned that perhaps we need to admit it’s difficult and carry on. But that’s not a tangible answer … Chronic...
Help, Chronic Illness is Affecting my Relationships – Part 1
I hate my chronically ill family member. Have you ever thought the above sentence? Maybe not in those words. Substitute ‘hate’ for one of these: dislike am frustrated at disapprove of am annoyed with would like to strangle Does the sentence ring true for you now? Has it ever? If so, this post...
Even More
WEBSITES
Caregivers with Hope exists with the goal of offering caregivers the tools and empowerment to be better. Drawing upon founder Peter Rosenberger’s 30 years of experience as a caregiver, Caregivers with Hope offers clear, proven, strategies and tools to guide caregivers towards a healthier lifestyle in every facet of their life. In addition, Caregivers with Hope provides invaluable tools to counselors, clergy, medical practitioners, employers and businesses faced with addressing the needs of the caregiver.
Because only another caregiver can understand…
Not everyone has friends who understand or will even listen; that’s why we’re here. We provide a safe and open space—at no cost to you—where you can be real about what it’s like to care for someone dealing with a serious disability or illness.
Stephen Ministry is a one-to-one lay caring ministry that equips congregations and empowers lay caregivers to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting. Stephen Ministries offers many caregiving books and resources.
BLOGS
For the family members, friends, spouses, neighbors and co-workers of individuals with chronic physical or mental illness. There is nothing easy about watching others struggle with chronic illness. In watching, we suffer too. There are two answers, one is community , the other is God. This blog points watchers to both.
A blog site with the goal of recognizing and helping family caregivers.
Daily Devotions for Caregivers
Jeanie Olinger was thrust into caregiving when her son was in a tragic accident, but she soon discovered that there is “a whole world of ‘us’ out there! Many times we find ourselves alone. Even the church can disappear quickly and good friends distance themselves because our world has changed. But God does not change with circumstance. My faith is what has carried me through and these devotions will hopefully help us all make one more day – encouraged in Him.”
Devotions to inspire hope and victory. “As I have watched my father and so many friends become full-time caregivers, I realized that there was a need to tell their stories. I hope the stories, Scripture verses, and prayers on these blogs will inspire you as you care for others, and that the stories of others in similar situations will be a source of encouragement to you.” – Nancy Bowen Brown
