Topics on caregivers
Caring For The Caregiver (That’s YOU!)
Posted by: | DateAs a caregiver, it is very important that you make sure your own needs are met and that you take care of yourself as well. I hope the following tips will be helpful to you. Let our care managers help you plan a time of respite. Mary Peters, MS, CCM
- Identify the stressors in your caregiving role. What is most frustrating or anxiety-producing? Think through and
- plan your responses to these stressful situations. Consult with a nurse or social worker who does care management. Access all the information you can about your parent’s diagnosis. Ask lots of questions at the doctor’s office.
- Get adequate rest. Put your feet up and nap when your loved one naps!
- Try to keep incidents in perspective. Read good books and practice meditation.
- Write feelings or thoughts in a journal to help put them in perspective. It is a good way to assess where you are.
- Set realistic goals regarding what and how much you can do for your loved one.
- Be good to yourself. Praise yourself for your patience and endurance. Continue to find ways to have fun.
- Use your sense of humor – Laughter is good medicine for you and your parent. Watch comedy on TV.
- Identify and use your support system. Avoid isolation. When family or friends offer help, accept it & plan it.
- Set aside certain days for respite and employ an in-home caregiver for peace of mind while you are away.
- Forgive yourself for not being perfect. Talk to others when you experience impatience, frustration, sadness or anger.
- Be kind to yourself. Caregiver burnout is around the corner if you neglect your own health.
- Eat well balanced meals and get regular checkups and daily exercise.
- Find sources for personal satisfaction. Take up a new hobby or return to one you have let go. Caring for an aging
person, especially with dementia, can be an overwhelming experience. The physical demands can be exhausting. - Emotional stress of trying to balance caregiving with your job, family and other relationships can get you down. It’s not unusual to feel angry, guilty, frustrated, discouraged, worried, grief-stricken, isolated and taken for granted.
- Finally, find your voice. Join a support group to provide you with an opportunity to share your feelings, learn about caregiving challenges and techniques for handling them, and help you identify resources
Found this article in the NY Times about negotiating vacations with elderly parents.
The New Old Age: On the Road With, or Without, Elderly Parents
By DALE RUSSAKOFF
Published: August 13, 2010
For caregivers trying to negotiate the vacation season with elderly parents, there are more choices than ever before
The New Old Age: On the Road With, or Without, Elderly Parents
Learning the Caregiving Ropes
Posted by: | DateLearning the Caregiving Ropes
By Carol Bradley Bursack, ElderCarelink.com
My first elder caregiving experience was with my neighbor Joe. His wife had died, so he was old, deaf, and alone. It was instinctive for me to help. An elder alone isn’t a good thing and I’d always been a natural caregiver. And in caring for Joe, I learned a lot of good lessons.
The first years with Joe were fun. But eventually he had a few tumbles, including one that landed him in the hospital. After that fall, Joe got some periodic in-home care and had a personal alarm installed, which alerted me when he fell again. Since it notified me immediately, I could get to Joe before he spent a night of agony alone on the kitchen floor. And that’s when I became a fan of personal alarms. I was learning.
Get Educated
Caregiving is a constant learning experience, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. For help, log on to your state’s website, which probably has an aging section. Here you’ll find information on some type of caregiver support program, which offers support for common issues:
· Don’t know how to bathe your mom? There may be training available.
· Need someone to talk to? They’ll help you find a group.
· Looking for in-home help for your dad? They can guide you to the right agency.
· Want to take a short break from caregiving? There may be volunteers or facilities who provide respite care.
Know Your Limits
Getting outside help doesn’t make you a failure. As the years march on, many people come to a point where they say, “Yes. Getting help is good for both of us.” If that describes you, pick up the phone or go online. Help is out there.
Dementia – continue to share your life with your loved ones
Posted by: | DateIt is important to continue to share your life with your loved one who has been diagnosed with dementia.
Advance planning in preparation for the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementia cannot be stressed enough. Letting the still cognitive person relate memories as you take dictation or use a small tape recorder is a good way to pass the time, the great reward is the gift this effort will provide for future generations in her family.