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- Take care of someone who has a chronic illness or disease.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Manage medications on someone’s behalf.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Help Bathe or dress someone who is frial or disabled.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- take care of househole chores, meals, shopping, or bills for someone who cannot perform these tasks alone.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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Helping Caregivers and Yourself<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1)\u00a0Offer Help to Caregivers<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Caregivers rarely ask for help, so we all must be advocates for them.\u00a0We must reach out to those in need and offer help, or recognize that they need resources and support.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Inform them of what is available in your community<\/strong>: this includes but is not limited to caregiving services, adult day care, meals on wheels, and respite care.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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2)\u00a0Ask for Help<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Speak up<\/strong>:\u00a0Do not expect friends and family members to automatically know what you need or how you\u2019re feeling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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- Spread the responsibility<\/strong>:\u00a0Try to get as many family members involved as possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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- Set up a regular check-in:<\/strong>\u00a0Ask a family member, friend, or volunteer from your church or senior center to call you on a set basis (every day, weekly, or how ever often you think you need it). This person can help you spread status updates and coordinate with other family members.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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- Accept assistance<\/strong>:\u00a0Accept help and let them feel good about supporting you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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- Be willing to relinquish some<\/strong>\u00a0control<\/strong>:\u00a0Delegate and do not micromanage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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3)\u00a0Give Yourself a Break<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a busy caregiver, leisure time may seem like an impossible luxury. But you owe it to yourself, as well as to the person you are caring for, to carve it into your schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Set aside a minimum of 30 minutes every day for yourself.<\/strong>\u00a0Do what you enjoy: reading, gardening, knitting, or watching the game.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Find ways to pamper yourself.<\/strong>\u00a0Try small luxuries such as, lighting candles, taking a long bath, getting a manicure, or buying fresh flowers for the house.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Get out of the house.<\/strong>\u00a0Seek out friends and family to step in with caregiving so you can have some time away from the home.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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- Visit with friends and share your feelings.<\/strong>\u00a0The simple act of expressing what you are going through can be very helpful. If it is difficult to leave the house, invite friends over to visit with you over coffee or dinner.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
4)\u00a0Practice Acceptance<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
When faced with the unfairness of a loved one\u2019s illness or the burden of caregiving, there is often a need to make sense of the situation and ask \u201cWhy?\u201d But you can spend a tremendous amount of energy dwelling on things you cannot change and for which there are no clear answers. Try to avoid the emotional trap of feeling sorry for yourself or searching for someone to blame. Focus on accepting the situation and looking for ways it can help you grown as a person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Focus on the things you can control<\/strong>:\u00a0You cannot wish your mother\u2019s cancer away or force your brother to help out more. Rather than stressing out over things you cannot control, focus on the way you choose to react to problems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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- Find the silver lining:<\/strong>\u00a0Think about the ways caregiving has made you stronger or how it has brought you closer to person you are taking care of or to other family members. Think about how caregiving allows you to give back and show your love.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Focus on the things you can control<\/strong>:\u00a0You cannot wish your mother\u2019s cancer away or force your brother to help out more. Rather than stressing out over things you cannot control, focus on the way you choose to react to problems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Find ways to pamper yourself.<\/strong>\u00a0Try small luxuries such as, lighting candles, taking a long bath, getting a manicure, or buying fresh flowers for the house.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Set aside a minimum of 30 minutes every day for yourself.<\/strong>\u00a0Do what you enjoy: reading, gardening, knitting, or watching the game.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Be willing to relinquish some<\/strong>\u00a0control<\/strong>:\u00a0Delegate and do not micromanage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Accept assistance<\/strong>:\u00a0Accept help and let them feel good about supporting you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Set up a regular check-in:<\/strong>\u00a0Ask a family member, friend, or volunteer from your church or senior center to call you on a set basis (every day, weekly, or how ever often you think you need it). This person can help you spread status updates and coordinate with other family members.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Spread the responsibility<\/strong>:\u00a0Try to get as many family members involved as possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Speak up<\/strong>:\u00a0Do not expect friends and family members to automatically know what you need or how you\u2019re feeling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Inform them of what is available in your community<\/strong>: this includes but is not limited to caregiving services, adult day care, meals on wheels, and respite care.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n