It is difficult to be a caregiver. Talking about caregiving can be difficult. And, according to Chrissy Metz, it’s a conversation nobody is having.
The This is UsStar shared her personal experiences caring for her mother, who is now 83 years old. During a panel discussionAbout the realities of caringgiving. Metz was joined by her co-stars and television parents Mandy Moore and Jon Huertas, series Executive Producer KJ Steinberg, Caring Across Generations’ Executive Director, Ai-jen Poo, and HFC co-founders Seth and Lauren Rogen to discuss Alzheimer’s and caregiving.
Metz confessed that she was already battling to hold back tears after answering just one question. Metz shared the long-term effects of stroke on her mother. “It’s like you lost half of your mom,”She said. “Every day is something different. Every day you face a new challenge. Boy, has it been a journey.”
So why don’t we talk about care? “It’s very uncomfortable for everybody,” Metz said.
Metz claims that her role is in This is UsThis has made it easier for her sisters to converse.
RELATED: Gen X Counselor Goes Viral For Thoughts On Why Her Generation Doesn’t Want To Take Care Of Aging Parents
“Every single day is a different conversation with my sisters regarding my mom. You know even things that my sister didn’t want to tell me. She’s like, ‘Remember [on This Is Us] when Rebecca said ‘such and such?’ and I’m like, ‘She’s using the show! This is great,”She said.
“The show that I’m on is helping bridge the gap, this is amazing!”
What Is The Meaning of The ‘Sandwich Generation’?
Metz emphasizes the importance not only of talking about caregiving, but of also talking about it To caregivers—more specifically, the sandwich generation.
“Through my character Kate on@nbcthisisus, I learned how incredibly difficult and isolating it is to be a sandwich generation caregiver—someone who raises children at the same time as caring for aging loved ones,”She wrote. Her TV experience helped her see the unique challenges that caregiving can present and made it clear to her how important it was to have conversations with caregivers.
“The series was a major step forward in giving visibility to the family caregiver experiences across the country, capturing the highs and lows, and offering a model for how to have tough but important conversations around adapting for illness and end-of-life care.”
“#ThisIsUsFinalChaptermay have come to a close, but the conversation around how we care for our families should not,”She said.
You can watch the entire panel discussion to learn how you can have these conversations. Visit the HFC Website.