Sustaining Family Caregivers

Make No Mistake, You’re Not the Only One

Of course it is rewarding, but the demands of working as the family caregiver for a loved one can be very stressful. This Comfort Keepers® article offers supportive recommendations about how you can handle your caregiving duties and manage the stress so you can better fulfill your caregiver responsibilities.

Hopefully, it is some solace to know that, as a family caregiver, you have a lot of company. Members of about 21 percent of U.S. households – roughly 44 million Americans - frequently provide homecare to a senior who is a family member or friend. Approximately 80 percent of in home care is carried out by friends and family of the elderly person.

As you will see below, there is a wealth of helpful resources out there for you. Therefore, with an eye toward you and your family’s mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing, don’t take on your caregiving mission like you’re all by yourself.

Make no mistake; you’re not the only one.

Respite Care: A Reprieve for Family Caregivers

Even though you dearly love the person in your care, it is imperative that you take frequent breaks from providing in home care. Constant caregiving will drain you of energy and exact a heavy price on your mental, emotional, and physical wellness.

If you are unwilling to receive respite care for yourself, be assured that it helps the senior as well. You will come back from your time off with your energy restored, and you will be revitalized and more helpful.

Your break could be anything from a simple day out with friends, running errands, or getting some exercise, to a full vacation away from everything.

There are many sources which can provide respite:

It is frequently the case that friends and family members want to offer aide, but merely don’t know how. Make it simple for them and you; provide a list of tasks they could do, for instance accompanying the senior for a walk, going to the grocery store, fixing a meal, or just spending some time with the senior.

Doctors also believe in the serious necessity for regular breaks from caregiving. Released by the American Academy of Family Physicians, A Practical Guide to Caring for Caregivers, asserts, “If the caregiver does not receive respite regularly, physicians should give them permission to ask for help and assist them in finding sources for assistance."

When arranging your respite care, make certain you discuss it with the senior you’re caring for. In particular, explain how it will benefit everyone. If you engage him or her in the planning, your senior will better accept it.

To learn more about respite care, go to helpguide.org.

Avoiding Caregiver Exhaustion by Taking Care of Yourself: A How-to Guide

In addition to planning frequent respites, Comfort Keepers advises you to follow the suggestions below in order to alleviate stress and sustain optimal wellbeing:

  • Regularly eat healthy meals.

  • For emotional support, stay in touch with friends.

  • For additional energy, make exercise part of your daily schedule.

  • Make sure you sleep at least seven hours each night.

  • Write in a diary to keep track of your feelings and thoughts. It is a simple way to express your emotions.

  • Talk to people about what’s going on. Don’t bury your emotions.

  • Remain socially active and caught up in your hobbies.

  • Go see a doctor on a regular basis. Talk to him or her about the possible effects of providing homecare on your mental, emotional, and physical wellness.

  • Take part in a support group. It will bolster your resolve and provide you with knowledgeable advice.

  • Pamper yourself – for example, a manicure, massage, or warm bath.

  • Be mindful of your limitations. You have the best knowledge of your other responsibilities, accordingly be sensible about the time you can commit to caregiving. Don’t be reluctant to hand over some tasks.

  • Get encouragement from your religion. Your faith community can be an excellent source of volunteer homecare assistance.

  • Make plans for a volunteer, friend, or family member to call you regularly to ask if you need any assistance.

  • Laugh often. Spend some time reading a funny book, watching a hilarious movie, or finding humor in everyday life.

  • Find out everything you can about your loved one’s specific needs and about caregiving in general. You can be a more effective and satisfied caregiver if you are armed with knowledge.

Ways that You Can be Helped by a Support Group

Internet Support Groups:

  • Offer the know-how and skills of a larger group of members, which can be useful when your loved one has specialized needs or suffers from an uncommon medical condition.

  • Let you access aide from the comfort of your home, which is especially important if you have limited mobility or transportation options.

  • Afford you the opportunity to receive help and counsel when you need it and when it is convenient.

Community Support Groups:

  • Give you the chance to build new friendships

  • Let you meet other caregivers in person and speak with them about issues you might both be dealing with. They may be able to offer helpful advice.

  • Provide info about the availability of local resources.

  • Help you avoid seclusion by regularly getting you out of the house.

Support and Recommendations for Caregivers on the Web

There is an abundance of resources online that offer help and guidance to caregivers. See the list of examples below: