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Tips for Successful Caregiving
Here are two important keys to successful caregiving:
1) Acknowledging yourself as a "family caregiver" and
2) Recognizing you can't do this alone.
The definition is simple: a caregiver is a person who cares about the well-being of someone needing assistance next door or across the country. This means you could be a caregiver but you just never called yourself one.
It doesn't matter how we say it or how we try to describe it, "caring for the family caregiver" is only a five-word statement until you hear first hand from other caregivers. They are often going through the same things you are, and they will all tell you to take care of yourself.
The following information/advice came from a male caregiver in Pennsylvania who believes it takes the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon, and support of family and friends to be a family caregiver. Mr. Robert L. Gerlach gives these seven tips.
- "Recognize a problem exists. Pay attention to signs that something is amiss with your loved one. Trust your instincts." Take action when you see a problem arising.
- "Find a good medical team." If you notice health or memory problems that are unexplained find out about more involved assessments and tests to assure that your loved ones receives the best medical care possible."
- "Acknowledge your feelings. When a loved one's illness or disease is irreversible, men [and women] must confront their anger and fear so these feelings don't interfere with their ability to provide care. By addressing your feelings, you go a long way toward maintaining quality of life for you and your loved one."
- "Use available resources. Learn everything you can as quickly as possible. Contact your parish or synagogue [and local Area Agency on Aging] to inquire about caregiver support services."
- "Learn about the condition. Read books, watch videos and television documentaries and search the Internet to learn all you can about your loved one's illness. Learn appropriate medical terms so you can converse intelligently with the medical team." There is power in knowledge.
- "Talk with family and friends. Be honest about the situation with adult children, other family members and friends. Ask for their prayers, encouragement, understanding and specific kinds of supports such as respite care home-cooked meals or assistance with housework."
Mr. Gerlach's last tip is "Attend a caregiver support group." Caregivers need a safe environment where they can laugh and cry with others who truly understand their situation. When everything seems to go wrong, support group participants can share endless amounts of information and advice. By attending a support group, you find that you are not alone."
For additional one on one support without leaving your home, log on to Answers4Families.org , click on Discussion Groups and sign up for one or more of our discussion groups. When you ask a question of other caregivers, you will receive several answers from other caregivers and professionals in your e-mail inbox within a few hours. You can also visit the Caregiver Support Groups page for a listing of Caregiver Support Groups in Nebraska.
Recent quotes from the monthly Madonna/Lincoln Area Agency on Aging Support Group survey were: "It was much more personally supportive than I had imagined it would be", "A person has to let their feelings out", "I need to hear that everyone's troubles are mostly the same and that I am not alone. I get a lot of good ideas from the experiences of others", and "I think this group and anything pertaining to the Lincoln Area Agency on Aging is extremely helpful to all types of people: Rich, Poor, Old or Young. Thanks for being there! I get something out of every session."
You are a family caregiver if you care about the well being of another person. Resources, support, and respite are available for you and to insure your loved one receives the best possible care. Lincoln Area Agency on Aging's First Service desk can answer questions about resources for the aging population.
