Tips for Family Caregivers

There are many families out there who donot seek a lot of help outside of the home when caring for parents. My words of wisdom are for those caregivers who are currently taking care of their ownfamily members in their home. Some of this insight can also be applied to caregivers working with other families as well. Hopefully you are able to getsome encouragement and support by reading this.

1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from those around you. You will be surprised how many people want to help out and truly care about you too.

2. When people offer to help, accept the offer and suggest specific things they can do. Accepting someone’s assistance doesn’tmean you are weak.

3. Caregiving is difficult, and because of this, you deserve a break. Treat yourself with small gifts, outings, & praise for yourself.

4. The connection between caregiving and depression is evident. If you feel sad or depressed, don’t ignore those feelings. Instead seek counsel from a loved one or a professional.

5. Educate yourself about your loved one’s condition and how to communicate effectively with doctors. There is a wealth of information online and there are support/educational groups for almost every disease or chronic illness.

6. Be open to technologies and ideas that promote your loved one’s safety & independence.

7. Trust your intuition regarding the help that you hire and making the correct long term decisions.

8. Be good to your body. Without your health, you will not be able to effectively care for your loved one.

9. Stay in communication with other caregivers. You will find strength & encouragement in knowing you are not alone in yourmission to care.

10. Don’t be afraid to grieve.

There is never a magic bullet for the issues that can arise from taking care of a relative who needs care, but I certainly hope that these tips will at least serve as a foundation for making guidelines in your life that will aid in being a caregiver to friends and family.