Written by Sister A. Kaye Irvin-Jones, Ocala District
10 Tips for Family Caregivers (Click on the Links for Additional information)
- Seek support from other caregivers. You are not alone!
- Take care of your own health so that you can be strong enough to take care of your loved one.
- Accept offers of help and suggest specific things people can do to help you.
- Learn how to communicate effectively with doctors.
- Caregiving is hard work so take respite breaks often.
- Watch out for signs of depression and don't delay getting professional help when you need it.
- Be open to new technologies that can help you care for your loved one.
- Organize medical information so it's up to date and easy to find.
- Make sure legal documents are in order.
- Give yourself credit for doing the best you can in one of the toughest jobs there is!
Because caregiving can be so overwhelming, it’s important to take steps to refresh yourself. At the very least, this will ensure that your loved one always gets the best you have to offer.
- Schedule time for yourself
- Share your feelings
- Use community resources
- Ask for help
- Cut yourself some slack
- Eat smart and exercise
- Attend to your spiritual health
Schedule time for yourself - Whether you feel like you need a break or not, schedule some personal moments, organize them, and stick to your schedule. Carefully guard any time you do manage to set aside. Learn to say no to unnecessary or unfulfilling activities.
Share your feelings - Talking about your caregiving problems isn’t complaining. Sometimes, family members assume that you’re doing just fine because they simply don’t know any better.
If those you’ve approached so far don’t seem inclined to listen, join a support group. There’s one for just about every situation.
- Make safety a primary concern. Find out if free or low-cost community escort services are available. Contact the local Area Agency on Aging for more information.
- Try writing out exactly what you’re feeling. Sometimes this will banish negative feelings all by itself.
- The next time someone asks, “What’s happening?,” use the opportunity to share your feelings. Tell it like it is.
- If your feelings are really bottled up and you’re overwhelmed, consider talking to a counselor, psychologist, or mental health professional.
Use community resources - Community resources like respite care and adult day care exist for your benefit. These services are invaluable for caregivers who need to recharge their batteries.
- Respite Care provides temporary relief for caregivers. Workers take over caregiving responsibilities for a brief period of time, and care can be provided in the home. These services can often be arranged through the local Area Agency on Aging.
- Adult Day Care provides social activities, therapies, education, and supervision in a group setting. Find them in the Yellow Pages, under “Health Services,” “Home Health Care,” “Senior Citizen Services,” or “Social Service Organizations.”
- Ask for help - Unfortunately, most caregivers operate without regular help from family and friends, but there’s no reason to isolate yourself when you don’t have to. The most effective caregivers can make reasonable, impartial judgments about both their loved one’s situation and their own abilities.
- Make an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses. You may be able to keep your mother’s spirits up, but do you have the strength to attend to her physical needs? Be realistic.
- When enlisting help, be as specific as you can. Don’t ask someone to come over “anytime” to “lend a hand.” Set a time and place.
- Try not to ask someone for help only to make him or her a spectator.
- Put friends and relatives at ease by explaining the situation in clear terms. Talk to them beforehand, so they know what to expect.
- Cut yourself some slack - Enough said.
- Eat smart and exercise - You’ve heard these two before. But exercise and proper nutrition will make you a stronger person. And a stronger person makes for a stronger, happier, more effective caregiver.
- Look at good diet and exercise as your responsibilities—your obligations—as a caregiver. This may seem unfair, but the rewards will far outweigh the effort.
- Investigate classes at community centers and gyms. Unconventional activities like karate, yoga, and square dancing can eliminate the sense of drudgery often attached to traditional exercise programs.
- Find a regular exercise partner, or even someone who will just join you for a daily walk.
- Attend to your spiritual health - Whatever your beliefs, make an effort to look after your spiritual reserves. They are your main source of strength. Keep in mind that your spiritual health is just as important as your physical health.
- Many caregivers place a high premium on faith and religious commitment. Religious leaders can offer spiritual guidance in addition to practical aid.
- Take mental vacations. Picture yourself in the most remote, relaxing place you can imagine. What are the sounds, the sights, the smells? This simple relaxation technique can decrease anxieties about the future and help you focus.