Putting a Face on Family Caregiving

An incredible number of Wisconsinites – about 578,000 by our last count – help their parents, spouses and other loved ones with a number of household chores and services that enable these folks to remain living independently in their own homes and communities as long as possible.

The unpaid care these family caregivers provide, such as managing medications, cooking meals, driving to appointments, performing complex medical tasks and more, is valued at about $7 billion in Wisconsin alone.

Seeing as November is National Family Caregivers Month, AARP felt it was appropriate to shine a bright light on a real face of one of these Wisconsinites who provide this type of care. Meet Sherrie Palm of Mukwonago.

Sherrie is in the “sandwich generation,” providing support throughout much of her life for both parents and children, including step-children. She is the founder and Executive Director for the healthcare nonprofit Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support. Her caregiving work has been an add-on.

“I learned as I went. You make mistakes, but you only make them once. I’m an all-cards-on-the-table kind of person, so I learn by asking questions. We all want to keep the wheels turning. We all feel guilty – like we should do more. I am able to find balance by laughing and focusing on the funny,” she said.

In an effort to recognize Sherrie’s selfless efforts, AARP honored her with a “Portrait of Care,” which is an artist’s painting of her with a loved one. Selected through AARP’s storytelling initiative called “I Heart Caregivers”, Sherrie is among 53 family caregivers chosen nationwide, including one each from each state, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to receive a hand-painted portrait.

Sherrie received the painting, along with congressional and state certificates of recognition from her local First District Congressman Paul Ryan and State Senator Steve Nass on Nov. 10 during an AARP presentation at a Mukwonago restaurant.

Sherrie said she really appreciated the honor and hopes AARP’s efforts at the state and federal level result in increased supports for family caregivers who give up so much of their time to assist loved ones in any way they can.

Our AARP Wisconsin State Director Sam Wilson said, “We want to celebrate family caregivers, spotlight their experiences of hope, love, dedication and perseverance, and elevate their stories. This is especially important as we work to support family caregivers through public policy, education, outreach and more.

Sam called family caregivers the backbone of our care system, serving a crucial role in helping older Wisconsinites and other loved ones remain in their own homes and communities as long as possible.

For nearly 15 years Sherrie has provided guidance for her parents and son, Erik – now age 27 – who has aggressive Lyme and additional underlying health concerns. Her father has degenerative spine issues while her mother suffers from genetic endocrine disorders and severe arthritis. “The backdrop of everything I do is to help out on either side as best I can,” she said.

Sherrie stays in daily contact with her son and visits her parents every chance she gets. She cooks dinner, shares funny stories, stays overnight and helps manage medical consultations and quality of life needs.

“I’ve come to recognize that on days when I feel like the mayo on all three layers of a triple-decker sandwich, nothing feeds my soul and recharges my battery like humor,” she says.

“Being a sandwich boomer is all day every day. At times do I feel like my life is absurd sideways? You bet. Would I trade a single aspect of it? Not on your life. If I can get the people I care about to laugh out loud, it fires my engines and I’m good to go.”

Thousands of caregivers have shared stories like Sherrie’s on the website www.aarp.org/iheartcaregivers