If you have been an older loved one’s “person,” whether as a POA or guardian or primary caregiver/manager, you know how heavy and tethering it is to be connected to someone’s well being like that. And once it’s over, you know two things: 1) what PTSD feels like and 2) that you will never, ever put someone you love in that position and will design a plan that ensures you’re not someone’s anchor point one day.

That’s the goal of this page and conversation: to talk about it, to plan for it and make for darn sure the people we love don’t catch PTSD from it.

The trick is, you only know about the danger zone ahead if you’ve experienced it. There are millions and millions of people out there who have either enjoyed “caregiving light” or haven’t been impacted at all in their walk — which means there is a high probability they will be the people who become burdens because, why plan for something that probably isn’t really a thing? Why plan for something you can’t even see or imagine?

Having faced a traumatic caregiving situation even from a safe distance, I can tell you it’s a thing. A big. Hairy. Ugly. Thing. Time to play the “What If? Game” like your life depends on it and get your Grand Plan together now! #GrandPlans