Supporting Others and Yourself

What is Caregiving?

Caregiving is providing support to someone, often a family member or friend, who needs help with daily tasks. This may be due to age or a health challenge. These tasks could be anything from grocery shopping, preparing meals, or doing laundry to managing medications and scheduling medical appointments. Sometimes it involves full-time care management when the person is no longer able to thrive independently.

The role often changes over time, especially when caring for older adults. Caregiving can be both emotionally and physically demanding, but it’s also an opportunity to deepen your connection with family and friends. It can leave you with memories that you will treasure as you help the person you are caring for go through this stage of their life.

How to Create a Care Plan

A care plan can be a helpful way to organize the tasks of caregiving and make sure everyone is on the same page. It’s a great way to make sure the basics of caregiving are covered. Here are some things to consider:

• Setting up a daily care routine: Work with your loved one to create a daily routine. This includes a practice of providing meals, medicines or treatments, and activities at certain times. Having a daily routine adds comfort and structure, helping you respond in ways that support both you and your loved one
• Legal and financial planning for caregivers: It’s wise to talk about finances, legal documents, and advance directives. Seek education on these topics from those who deal with this regularly. It can help prevent surprises and ensure your loved one’s wishes are known.
• Communicating with healthcare providers: When you talk with the care team, have a list of questions ready. Keep a notepad to write down their answers. This kind of clear communication is key to providing good care.

One of the most useful things you can do at the beginning of your journey is to have a conversation to learn the most important goals and needs of the person needing care. Documenting wishes about end of life care and advanced directives at the early stages can be difficult but knowing what’s important to them early on can help remove emotion and guilt from future decisions.

To help with managing all your responsibilities, we have a helpful Caregiver Checklist available for download on our site.

Building Your Care Team and Resources

To help manage care, it’s a good idea to build a caregiving team. This includes collecting contact information for healthcare providers, insurance representatives, friends, and neighbors who can help. You can look for ways to improve safety in the home, such as installing handrails and grab bars, so your loved one can stay as independent as possible.

It’s also helpful to assemble a list of trustworthy local resources for things like home care, medical equipment, transportation, and meal services. Even having someone on standby to take your place in case of an emergency can be critical. Having this relevant information on hand can be a big help when you need to contact other services.

Managing Caregiver Stress and Burnout

Taking on a caregiver role can be challenging, and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed at times. It’s important to remember to show grace to yourself and the person you’re caring for. They usually aren’t trying to give you a hard time intentionally; they are likely having a hard time themselves. Here are some tips for managing caregiver stress and burnout:

• Meet them where they are: Try to understand their feelings and abilities today, not where they were previously. Be patient. Remember to meet them where they are, not where you expect them to be. Communicating with healthcare providers can help you understand the changes your loved one may be going through.
• Take short breaks: Even a few minutes of quiet time to read or listen to music can give you a feeling of calm. Seeking out respite care for longer breaks is also a good idea. These respite programs offer skills that can alleviate the worry of someone else caring for your loved one while you recharge your energy.
• Ask for help: Be aware that you don’t have to do it all alone. A support group, older adult programs, or a friend can assist in dealing with household chores, help with tasks, or just be there to listen. There are many things friends or family could help with, so have ready replies when someone asks, “Is there anything I can do?”

Prioritize Your Well-Being

Caregiving can be physically and emotionally draining, often leaving little time for yourself. To be a good caregiver, you must also care for your own health. Here are a few key strategies that could help achieve this:

• Stay Healthy
  Maintaining your physical health is a key component of self-care. Exercising regularly, eating healthy meals, and getting enough sleep are always important. These simple habits can help boost your energy levels and improve your mood, helping you cope with the daily demands of caregiving.
• Find Time for Yourself
  It’s crucial to set aside time for activities you enjoy, even if it’s just for a few minutes a day. Hobbies like reading, listening to music, or crafting are great for managing stress. It is vital to ask friends or family for help so you can participate in these activities. Identify your needs to other people within the caregiving team so that they can assist you with your loved one’s care.
• Seek Support
  The emotional toll of caregiving is significant, and if you feel you are suffering from it, it is essential to seek help. Talk to family, mental health professionals, or spiritual advisors if you’re struggling with feelings of frustration, sadness, or hopelessness. Additionally, regular medical checkups are valuable for monitoring your own health, including watching for signs of depression and fear for your loved one.

Home Safety and Caregiving Support

Making the home a safer place is an essential part of caregiving. Removing tripping hazards and installing grab bars are home safety modifications that can help prevent falls and keep your loved one safe as they move around their space.

For more caregiver support, research local resources and services. You can start by checking with doctors, faith-based organizations, or other community groups. Your loved one may be eligible for home health care, which includes visits from doctors or nurses to their home, as well as other home services that offer personal care and respite care.

Adult day care programs provide out-of-home support that can give families a break on some days. Those programs provide care in a safe environment where people can meet and socialize with others who share similar interests or are in a similar medical situation.

Online resources can be a helpful tool. Area Agencies on Aging are public or private non-profit agencies designated by the states to address the needs and concerns of older adults. This service was made possible by the Older Americans Act of 1965, a law that helps older people live independently in their homes and stay part of their communities longer by offering services and programs.

Groups like national care centers or national care councils can help you learn about local programs and connect you with other caregivers in the area.

Veterans are eligible for many benefits if they meet the eligibility requirements through the Veterans Affairs (VA). Durable medical equipment is just one of the things that the VA can provide.

Final thoughts for you to take away…

Your well-being matters just as much as the person you’re caring for. Making time for self-care and being kind to yourself can help you provide better support to your loved one. As the saying goes, you can’t serve from an empty cup. Remember, you are not alone on this journey.