S2 Ep 19 - Decision Made! How to Own Your Choice and Adapt with Confidence

Welcome back to the Caregiver Secrets Podcast, the show where we share practical advice, heartfelt stories, and encouragement for those who give their all to care for loved ones. I'm so glad you're here today. You’re not alone on this journey, and together, we’ll tackle the joys and challenges of caregiving with compassion and support.

Before we dive in, let me remind you: this is not medical, financial, or health advice. Please consult with the appropriate professionals for specific concerns. My role is to inform and support you as best I can, but the actions you take are up to you. With that said, let’s get started.

Over the past three episodes, we’ve taken a deep dive into the decision-making process for caregivers. We started by exploring the emotional weight of caregiving decisions, then moved on to laying a strong foundation for making thoughtful choices. Yesterday, we discussed the importance of exploring and testing your options to ensure you’re making the best decision for both your loved one and yourself. Today, in the final episode of our series, we’ll be talking about making and owning your decision with confidence and grace.

The ninth step in this process is to run mental simulations. Now that you’ve gathered all your information and explored different possibilities, take time to picture each option and anticipate how it might play out. Imagine what a day would look like under each scenario. What challenges might arise? What benefits might you experience? When I was deciding whether to care for my mom at home or place her in a facility, I took time to visualize both paths. I imagined the daily routines, the level of care she would receive, and how I would feel in each situation. This helped me anticipate issues before they happened and allowed me to make adjustments before committing to a final choice.

The tenth step is to assess reversibility. Some decisions are easier to change than others, and it’s important to consider how flexible your choice is. If an option doesn’t work out, how difficult will it be to go in a different direction? When I considered placing my mom in memory care, one of my biggest concerns was how challenging it would be to reverse that decision if I realized it wasn’t the best fit. On the other hand, keeping her at home with additional help allowed for more flexibility to adjust as needed. Thinking through this helped me make a choice I felt comfortable with, knowing I had room to adapt if necessary.

The eleventh and final step is to make the decision and own it. Once you’ve done the work, weighed your options, and prepared yourself, trust yourself enough to commit. I know how easy it is to second-guess and wonder if you’re making the right call. But the truth is, no decision is perfect, and you’re making the best choice with the information and resources you have. After I decided to care for my mom at home while bringing in additional support, I still had moments of doubt. But looking back, I realize that no path would have been without challenges. What mattered most was that I made the choice with love, careful thought, and faith.

After making a decision, it’s important to reflect on how it’s working. If circumstances change, you have the freedom to revisit and adjust your choice. Adaptability is one of the greatest strengths a caregiver can have. Caregiving is not a one-time decision—it’s an ongoing journey filled with learning and growth. You may need to reassess and pivot along the way, and that’s okay. Give yourself permission to evolve in your choices as new information and experiences come your way.

Above all, be kind to yourself. Caregiving is full of tough choices, and no one gets everything right 100% of the time. You are doing an incredible job, and your love and dedication are what truly matter. As Tia Walker so beautifully said, “To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors.”

The key takeaway from this episode is this: Making decisions as a caregiver is an act of courage and love. Trust the process, and trust yourself.

If you found this episode helpful, please like, subscribe, and share it with a friend who might benefit from this message. Be sure to explore our other episodes for more insights and encouragement.

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Finally, I’d love for you to grab a free copy of my book, Get Risen. It’s written by a family caregiver for caregivers, and you can get it at https://bit.ly/Get Risen.

I want to take a moment to thank you for being here and for joining me throughout this entire series. Decision-making as a caregiver is not easy, but I hope this process has given you the tools to approach it with confidence and peace. If there was a part of this series that resonated with you, I encourage you to go back and listen again. Reflect, take notes, and apply what speaks to your heart. You are not alone on this journey, and every step you take in love is a step in the right direction.

Thank you for allowing me to walk alongside you in this season. You are doing an incredible job, and I’m so proud of you. Until next time, remember: You’ve got this!