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Managing The Stress ~ Making The Decisions ~ Discovering The Meaning |
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Caregiving |
Solutions To Your Caregiving Situations Throughout Your Caregiving Years |
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Their Past and Our Present Survivors can’t tell, but also can’t forget Ruth learned of her parents' Holocaust survival as a young girl. Her parents shared stories of leaving Europe as displaced persons after the war and eventually settling in the States. But, the stories before their liberation were few and far between. To learn about the Holocaust, Ruth read Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl and watched "The Pianist" and "Schindler's List". Now, Ruth seems to be learning first-hand about the Holocaust atrocities because her parents seem to be reliving them every day. Holocaust Community Services Program was created to help persons like Ruth's parents, persons who survived Nazi persecution. Holocaust Community Services, based in Skokie, Ill., is a collaborative effort of Council for Jewish Elderly, HIAS Chicago, Jewish Community Relations Council and Jewish Family and Community Service, in partnership with Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. Holocaust Community Services helps survivors apply for restitution through various programs; provides support and group meetings; trains professionals and paraprofessionals on how to care for Holocaust survivors (see article on page 2); and offers support for families of the survivors. Survivors may experience unresolved mourning, says Audrey Cantor, LCSW, Coordinator, Holocaust Community Services Program, which may manifest itself in nightmares and intense fears. For families of survivors, these responses may be difficult to understand and manage, particularly if the survivor never shared their Holocaust story. "After the war, many survivors were told, 'Don't talk about it'," says Cantor, "so they didn't." Cantor suggests that families of survivors try to provide opportunities for survivors to share their stories. For instance, if a care recipient becomes terrified and agitated during a bath, a family caregiver may say: "Mom, you seem so upset today. When I wash your back, I seem to make you so fearful. Is there anything I should know?" Cantor reminds families that the survivor did the best they could to adjust to a new country, find jobs, raise families. It's important for the adult children to forgive their care recipients' past inability to share. When hearing the stories, families should show their love and support and be open to the communication. Cantor suggests that the listener assure the story-telling by saying, "I can hear your story. And, I can be here for you." Hearing a story of trauma endured by a care recipient can be overwhelming for a family caregiver. Family caregivers may find themselves overwhelmed by sadness, anger, even guilt. Talking to counselors may help both the families and the survivors. Programs and services are available in all communities to help survivors of Nazi persecution and their families. For more information, contact your local Jewish Federation. Resources: Holocaust World Resource Center Health care settings may stir up tortured memories of past Survivors can’t tell, but also can’t forget When they change for the better What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder? |
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