One Remains a Caregiver

Placing a loved one in a care home is one of the hardest decisions a family can face. In theory, it should bring relief – because safety and professional care have been secured. In practice, however, the heart often struggles to accept it.

Sadness appears, along with guilt, and sometimes even shame. And then the question arises: “Am I still a caregiver?”

You no longer watch over every step. You no longer give medication, help with meals, or respond to every sound in the night.

But caregiving is more than daily tasks. It is the invisible thread that connects, even when the address has changed. It is the memory of details only you know. It is the conversation with staff, the favourite biscuits you bring, the photo on the bedside table, the smile that appears at the sight of your face.

Sometimes it is also the simplest touch – holding a hand, a gentle hug, a back massage. Gestures that require no words, yet bring safety and closeness.

One remains a caregiver – even though the role looks different now. Tasks are no longer performed with your own hands. Instead, you care for your loved one’s quality of life in their new place. You keep watch emotionally and spiritually. You make sure that everyday life in the institution does not become impersonal.

Care continues in every visit, every phone call, every memory. It also continues in the heart – and the heart cannot be handed over to someone else.

Being a caregiver is not only about tasks. It is presence. It is care. It is touch that soothes. It is love that does not disappear, even if the way it is expressed changes.