Photos Honor Caregiving

Displayed in the lobby of the Christian Reformed Church in North America's office in Grand Rapids, Mich., are six evocative photographic portraits of people who provide care to those in need and of those who receive the care.

The photos at the CRC office are part of a series of photographs in an exhibit titled "Don't Walk the Caregiver Path Alone." In many cases, the photos show the caregiver who tends to the needs of a loved one. In others, the caregiver is an outside person, often from an organization that provides this service.

The photographers were Dan and Jodi Johnson, who own a photography studio in the Grand Rapids area. They took the photos for the Caregivers Resource Network, which includes more than 80 organizations dedicated to helping family caregivers.

"This beautiful collection reminds us that caregivers also include mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, friends, and many others unpaid and paid for their caregiving," says Rev. Mark Stephenson, director of the CRC’s Disability Concerns office.

The photographs came to the CRC lobby courtesy of Visiting Angels of West Michigan, an organization that offers around-the-clock assistance and care to clients who need the help. The photos will be at the office through mid March.

Stephenson says the photographs are a reminder of the value, necessity and the spiritual power of caregiving.

"Sometimes we have a stereotype of a caregiver as either a paid staff person at a nursing home or a faithful wife whose care sustains her husband as his health fails. Both of these situations do describe caregivers," says Stephenson.

But caregiving is an integral part of living for everyone.

"In fact," says Stephenson, “every one of us has needed a caregiver during infancy. Nearly all of us will need care along our journeys as adults, too. Likewise, nearly all of us will give some kind of care to others along the way."

Caregiving is a task that reminds us of "our own need for care and our calling to give care," says Stephenson.

Through caregiving, he adds, "we build community and become more like Christ who welcomed a cup of cold water from a Samaritan woman and gave his life to care for humanity's ultimate need."

Twenty-five percent of Americans provide care for an aging family member. "It can be a long road, but you don’t have to walk it alone," says a brochure that comes with the display of portraits.

In taking the photos, the Johnsons had the intention of showing people, says Dan Johnson, that "beauty can be part of the caregiving process." 

Johnson said they took the photos for the Caregiver Resource Network and entered the photos in Art Prize, an annual event in Grand Rapids in which artists from around the world exhibit their work in various places throughout the city.

"Our photographs were created to bring exposure to a group of people and organizations that give care," says Johnson. "Caregiving affects all generations and all people. Our goal was to let people know that there are caregiving resources out there to help them."

To learn more about the organization that asked Johnson to take the photos, click Caregiver Resource Network.  To contact Johnson about the project, call 616-261-2949 or email him at [email protected].