When your caregiving journey began, did you feel like you were navigating in the dark?
Caregivers often say they wish they had someone to talk to and to learn from. OCO’s Peer Mentor program is currently looking for caregiver mentors. Sharing your own experience and learnings might just be what another caregiver needs. Even just being a listening ear goes a long way in helping caregivers feel less alone.
January is National Mentoring Month, a time to celebrate the power of shared experiences.
Read about the experience of one of OCO’s Peer Mentors:
My First Month as a Peer Mentor
My own caregiving journey felt like navigating without a compass. I drew on skills that I’ve learned from past careers, endless research, and various people I’ve met along the way. But a constant thought lingered in my mind: How could someone without my background take on the overwhelming responsibility of being a caregiver?
That questions led me to OCO’s Peer Mentor program.
At first, I was hesitant. I’m an ‘action’ person that makes plans and downplays emotions. I wondered, ‘What could I possibly offer another caregiver over the phone?’ My doubts grew during training, but a voice in my head kept saying: If not you, then who?
My first phone call was nerve-wracking. Their situation was so different from mine that I wondered how I could help. I simply listened. To my surprise, that was exactly what the caregiver needed.
I began to look forward to our weekly sessions. I realized that while every caregiving story is unique, the isolation caregivers feel is the same. You don’t have to be an expert to be a mentor, you just need to be someone who has walked the path.
Become a Peer Mentor
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