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Survival Guide for New Caregivers

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Whether you saw it coming or not, caring for an aging parent can be a challenge. Your parent may have been on a gradual decline, giving you the opportunity to plan ahead and implement care strategies a little bit at a time; or your parent may have taken a fall and broken a hip, resulting in the need for immediate care.

Whatever the case, jumping into the role of caregiver can be overwhelming. What steps do you need to take to ensure your parent is properly cared for? How can you fit it into your already full life? Where can you turn for help?

Assess the Situation

Before you jump in head first, step back and decide what your parent needs. If your parent has his/her cognitive functioning intact, consult them to decide what type of care they would prefer and what is needed.

Some questions to consider:

  • Do they need short term or long term assistance? Even if this is a new injury, bear in mind that as we age, it takes longer to heal. Your parent may need help getting to physical therapy appointments, performing certain activities of daily living, etc. for more than a few weeks. I had a client who had a broken hip, that resulted in surgery and three months of recovery. Even after the three month recovery time, a year later, she still lamented about her challenges getting up and down stairs.
  • What type of assistance do they need? Do they need someone to assist with activities of daily living? Do they need food delivered? Do they need transportation to medical appointments or physical therapy?
  • Is their home suitable for them to age in place or do they need to make changes, or explore other housing options?
  • What is your budget? Are there funds available to tap into? If not, are there other family members who can assist and/or help cover costs?

Make a Plan

Once you’ve assessed the situation, you can develop a plan of action. Whether you need long- or short-term assistance, you will need to decide who will do what activities and how frequently. If you are working with siblings or other family members, you should consider all sitting down together to develop a schedule and plan. Just in case, you may want to refer to my sibling rivalry post before having your family meeting.

Here are some things you can do to make caregiving run smoother:

  • Create a shared calendar (Google offers free calendars that you can share) to post medical appointments, physical therapy appointments and any other transportation needs that will require a volunteer or service.
  • Decide who will handle researching services and benefits available to your parent and agree on a timeline.
  • Determine which tasks can be handled by family members and which tasks to outsource and set up a schedule. If you lay out all of the possibilities ahead of time and address expectations, there is less room for confusion and frustration later.
  • Decide how long you will need outside support and how much you will use. If you will be using outside support indefinitely, decide how you will ensure your parent is receiving proper care.
  • If your parent will ultimately need to move into an assisted living facility, work together to decide on timing and how to make the transition easier for your parent.

Common Caregiving Tasks to Discuss

  • Who is purchasing groceries and how frequently?
  • How will meals be handled? Will you use a service or will someone provide meals for your parent?
  • Who is hiring and overseeing hired caregivers? What are the expectations and how frequently will you use outside help? Who will pay?
  • Who is handling bill paying? How frequently will bills be paid and how will your parent can access funds for incidentals?
  • Who will handle cleaning/maintaining your parent’s home?
  • Who will handle transportation needs (either providing transportation or securing transportation)?
  • If your parent needs personal care (bathing, dressing, feeding), who will handle those tasks?

 

You will have many other tasks to consider, this is just a general list to get the ball rolling. If you are in need of long-term assistance, check out my resources page for links to benefits for seniors. Bear in mind that many services take several weeks to start, so the earlier you get the application submitted, the better.

 

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Caregiving

Resources to Help Caregivers

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Become a caregiver for a spouse or elderly parent can be overwhelming. From managing two households to overseeing or providing personal care, it can be difficult to reach out for help when you don’t know where to turn.

Whether you need help in the home or emotional support for you or your parent, reaching out can make a positive impact on your day-to-day life. These underutilized free or low cost resources are a great place to start in connecting with others and finding support on your caregiving journey. Resources to Help Caregivers

  1. Senior Centers: I am a huge fan of senior centers. In addition to all of the wonderful activities and classes they offer, your local senior center is an excellent resource for you as a caregiver. Did you know that you can purchase Taxi vouchers for seniors there (depending on availability in your city)? They can also help you with applications for other city or federal transportation or wellness services and provide referrals for services outside their scope. Many senior centers also provide tax help and computer training. This should definitely be one of your first stops in your caregiving journey.
  1. Your Local Hospital Website: Many hospitals offer classes, workshops or support groups tailored to specific medical conditions or general well-being. They are usually facilitated by doctors, nurses or social workers and are designed to help patients live a healthier, richer life, even when they deal with a chronic health condition. This is a great way to gain valuable information on living well or to learn how to better deal with medical challenges – everything from diabetes to Parkinson’s Disease. You will also have the opportunity to meet others living with the same condition.
  1. YMCA: I know, you’re thinking, wait, that’s a gym. You’re right, it is, but did you know that many YMCAs actually have senior programming? I know of three in my community that have special senior programs focusing on everything from life story writing, balance classes, healthy eating workshops and brain fitness classes. It’s not just about working out anymore, although, they also have fitness classes geared specifically towards seniors, including chair workouts, yoga and Tai Chi.
  1. Nonprofit Organizations: While these organizations are mainly known for their fundraising and treatment research, nonprofit groups such as the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association and Alzheimer’s Association do more than fund research. Many of them also provide support for families and patients, including workshops, support groups and actual help in the home. I have heard of nonprofits providing everything from home cleaning services to patients undergoing treatment to sending caregivers to the home to give the caregiver a break. You won’t know what is offered until you reach out.

The caregiving journey can be challenging. Between all of the tasks of helping your parent run their life to running your own life, it can become overwhelming. Just taking one small step at a time to reach out for help will make a huge difference.

Resources to Help Caregivers

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How to Prevent Agitation in Loved One with Dementia
Caregiving

How to Prevent Agitation in Loved One with Dementia

by Silverado
written by Silverado

 
A person with dementia can become agitated for a number of reasons such as pain, fatigue, confusion, or restlessness. Agitation is indicated by feelings of anxiety or becoming upset very quickly. Loved ones and caregivers should be cognizant of how to prevent or respond to these cases by taking a few precautions. How to Prevent Agitation in Loved One with Dementia

Dr. Elizabeth A. Landsverk, Silverado Belmont Hills Medical Director, suggests three ways to reduce or prevent agitation with dementia patients:

  • Remove medicationsthat cause any agitation or more confusion, such as Xanax or sleeping pills. It’s best to consult your doctor about which medications could be an emotional trigger.
  • Manage pain and discomfort.Address hunger, thirst, constipation, a full bladder, fatigue, infections and skin irritations. She also suggest substituting existing pain medications with Tylenol.
  • Get them engaged in activities they enjoy doing.Since changes in environment are common causes of agitation, and can also be extremely overwhelming for the patient, familiarity in doing something they love can have a very relaxing effect. This also minimizes chances of confusion.

For more videos of dementia specialists answering common questions, click here.

How to Prevent Agitation in Loved One with Dementia

How to Prevent Agitation in Loved One with Dementia How to Prevent Agitation in Loved One with Dementia How to Prevent Agitation in Loved One with Dementia How to Prevent Agitation in Loved One with Dementia How to Prevent Agitation in Loved One with Dementia How to Prevent Agitation in Loved One with Dementia How to Prevent Agitation in Loved One with Dementia
 

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Why Long Distance Care Matters Now More Than Ever
Caregiving

Caring for Someone Who Doesn’t Want Help

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Admitting you need help is hard. Especially when you used to be the one people went to for help. Suddenly, people are telling you what you should do or what you can’t do. Most seniors, regardless of what the outside looks like, still feel like their old selves, so when their adult children start treating them like a frail person who needs assistance, they can resist. Caring for Someone Who Doesn’t Want Help

So how can you respectfully help your independent mother or father accept help, whether from you or a hired caregiver, so that they can continue their independent lifestyle while remaining safe?

Transportation

If your elderly parent is no longer safe on the road, you’ll need to address transportation before it is addressed for you. Has your parent already had a few fender benders? That could be a sign that they may need to cut back on driving. If you are considering taking away the keys, you never want to go into this discussion empty handed.

Providing solutions for transportation so that a senior can see clearly that while they may no longer be driving, they can still enjoy all of their activities is critical in making the transition easier. Make sure you cover everything from trips to the grocery store to the hairdresser and lunch with friends. You don’t need to use one service to cover all of their needs. I find that the most successful seniors have a network of services they used so that they were never left stranded.

If cost is a concern for your senior parent, figure out the cost of operating their vehicle. It is probably very close to what they will pay for services and they will be much safer. The cost of a car accident is far higher than what they will spend on transportation. I had a client who sold her car and kept the cash from the sale to use for transportation so that she wasn’t dipping into her other funds for transportation. I’m not totally on board with keeping a big sum of cash at home, but it was an interesting way of managing her transportation costs.

Get Help at Home

It is extremely difficult to convince someone to allow a stranger into their home to perform tasks that they still want to do. My suggestion is to start slow and small. Perhaps your parent doesn’t need a daily caregiver, or actual caregiving tasks performed.

Sit down together and think about the types of things that would be nice to get help with. Is vacuuming challenging? Perhaps cleaning the toilets or shower and tub are becoming more difficult or dangerous. Working with your parent will help them feel like you’re not making decisions for them.
Does your parent need help with cleaning and food prep? Maybe just bring in a caregiver 2-3 times a week for a few hours to do housekeeping and help your parent prep food so that they can cook it when they are ready. I’ve even know families who hired a caregiver to do light cleaning and go for a walk with their parent so that they can get exercise outdoors safely.

If you start slowly and involve your parent, they will get used to having a bit of help around the house and the more help they need, the more willing they will be to accept it. Now, of course, this doesn’t work for everyone. I knew a woman who was so sweet to me and my drivers and it was shocking to see her interaction with her caregivers. She really hated having someone in her space, but sadly, she needed it. The best thing you can do in this situation is try to find the best fit for them. Maybe the first or second caregiver won’t be the right person for them, but the third might be just what they needed.

Outside Activities

Quite frankly, so long as your parent is physically and emotionally able to get out and be social, you should encourage it. I have noticed that my senior friends who had activities to look forward to were in much better emotional and physical health than those who only went out for medical visits. Social activity combats loneliness, which has been linked to mental and health problems.

Even if they have physical or cognitive limitations, finding ways to maintain their social activities is important to their overall well-being. You may need to enlist a companion or caregiver to participate in an activity with them, but whenever possible, they should stay active. I had a client with dementia who went to the gym multiple times per week because he truly enjoyed it. I also knew of a woman with dementia who played mah jong with a group of friends every week, with the help of her caregiver. We even took a woman in a wheelchair to the beach a few times a week to ride along the bike path. Find ways to make participation enjoyable, even if it isn’t the same as it was in the past.

Accepting a change in lifestyle is hard for anyone. Work together with your parents to find the best fit for them and show them that their opinions and decisions are valuable.Caring for Someone Who Doesn’t Want Help

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Patient Advocate vs Geriatric Care Manager
Caregiving

Patient Advocate vs Geriatric Care Manager

by Carol Marak
written by Carol Marak

A few weeks ago, a reader asked, “Can you tell me the differences between a geriatric care manager and a patient advocate? I hear the two terms frequently and wonder if they are the same?” Here are the basic differences:

A Patient Advocate can assist anyone of any age – not limited to someone who is elderly, or at least over a ‘certain age,’ as a geriatric case manager would be.

A Geriatric Care Manager does not focus strictly on healthcare. Their work is broader with some emphasis on finances, housing, and other aspects of life that change as we age.

A Geriatric Care Manager serves as stand-in provider when families cannot be around.

The list of tasks include:

  • Conduct care-planning assessments to identify needs.
  • Put a care plan together; executing that plan.
  • Screen and monitor hired personal caregivers.
  • Act as a liaison to families.
  • Assist with moving clients to or from different care settings.
  • Review financial, legal, or medical issues and referring clients to experts.
  • Provide crisis intervention.–Provide client and family education.
  • Visit clients on a regular, routine basis to make sure they are safe, doing well, eating properly, and taking needed medications.
  • Make necessary medical appointments and assure client gets to them.
  • Identify agencies and/or social services and other programs that the client can use.
  • Monitor the elder’s finances and paying bills.

Patient advocates help navigate all areas of the healthcare industry including,

  • Help you research and select the best health insurance.
  • Track paperwork and records.
  • Review medical bills for accuracy.
  • Negotiate medical bills with your providers.
  • File insurance, social security, and disability claims.
  • Dispute and negotiate claim denials.
  • Research diagnosis and all treatment options.
  • Assist you in getting a second opinion.
  • Prepare and accompany you to doctor’s appointments.
  • Provide hospital bedside monitoring.
  • Review your medications.
  • Provide End of Life planning, and assist with the paperwork (i.e. living wills, POST, DNRs, Advance Directives, etc.)
  • Make recommendations for in-home care, assisted living facilities, or nursing homes.

 

The individuals who hire a geriatric care manager include families and adult children of relatives too far away, banks and trust officers, physicians, attorneys, hospitals, social service providers, gerontology professionals, and senior housing communities.

Individuals hire patient advocates when they want help finding a new doctor, in the hospital and have no one nearby to check on them, confused about the medications and concerned about allergic reactions, need help searching and selecting a specialist, need help navigating the clinical trial landscape, or need help securing financial resources for treatments.

Carol Marak, aging advocate, syndicated columnist, and editor at Seniorcare.com. She earned the Fundamentals of Gerontology Certificate from UC Davis, School of Gerontology.

Get on the waitlist for my Facebook subscription group or my weekly newsletter and learn how to plan for aging well. Send an email to carol@seniorcare.com and say you’re interested in the group or newsletter.

 

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4 Must-Have Qualities in a Caregiver
Caregiving

4 Must-Have Qualities in a Caregiver

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

Hiring a professional caregiver for your mom, dad, or grandparent is a major decision, one that’s not always easy to make. After all, you’re asking a stranger to look after one of the most important people in your life. If you’ve never hired a caregiver before, you might have no idea what to look for in an ideal candidate. 4 Must-Have Qualities in a Caregiver
That dilemma is one that Visiting Angels President and CEO Larry Meigs is familiar with. “I’ve worked in home care for more than two decades. In that time, I’ve met countless families who felt nervous about bringing a professional caregiver into their home. Putting them at ease and helping them find the right caregiver for their loved one is a big part of the home care process.” 4 Must-Have Qualities in a Caregiver

According to Meigs, many of these families are unsure what qualities they should look for when hiring a caregiver. The important qualities, he says, are the same ones that care agencies look for when hiring new caregivers. To help families find the right caregivers for their loved ones, we recently asked Larry what he considers to be the four must-have qualities in a caregiver.

“Compassion”

The first quality that Meigs believes distinguishes great caregivers is compassion.

“When someone reaches the point where they need home care, that’s always a sensitive situation. Many seniors feel self-conscious and nervous about hiring a caregiver. They might be defensive about strength, mobility, or memory concerns, or they might be embarrassed about needing a stranger’s help with personal activities.

“Nothing makes a bigger difference in these situations than a compassionate caregiver. Having someone with the empathy to understand what seniors are going through — someone who will treat seniors with respect, no matter the situation — that’s someone who I’d want caring for my mom or dad.”

“Experience”

The second quality that Meigs highlighted was a caregiver’s experience.

“When I’m looking at caregiver candidates, one of the first things I’m looking for is past care experience. But quality experience doesn’t always need to come from a home care setting. Many of our offices have found some of their best care staff by focusing on non-traditional experience, such as caring for their own family member. We look for caregivers who demonstrate the personality, skills, and approach that we consider essential to home care. Looking at a caregiver’s professional experience will really give you a sense of how they treat others and what kind of person you’re hiring.” 4 Must-Have Qualities in a Caregiver

“Dedication”

Along with compassion and experience, Meigs says that dedication is an invaluable quality when hiring home care providers.

“Caregiving isn’t always easy, and not everyone has the dedication that you find in successful caregivers. When I’m hiring a caregiver, I’m looking for someone who is going to stand by their clients through thick and thin, someone who’s willing to go the extra mile when it’s needed.”

Meigs says that one way to gauge a caregiver’s dedication to people in their care is to ask them about past clients. “The way caregivers talk about past clients says a lot about their attitude toward care. If someone’s willing to talk down about a past care recipient, they may not be willing to go above and beyond in service to other seniors.”

“Patience”

The final quality that Meigs includes in his top four is patience.

“There are situations that come up in almost any care relationship that demand patience from care professionals. When these situations arise, it’s vital that caregivers have the personality and temperament to maintain a calm, kind, and gentle presence.

“Whether they’re dealing with a frustrating situation, a repetitive or unpleasant task, or a care recipient who no longer has control of his or her own temper, caregivers need to be able to maintain that kind, gentle, and understanding approach that distinguishes superior care.”

Thinking of hiring a caregiver for your parent or grandparent? If so, we invite you to contact your nearest Visiting Angels office for a free, in-home consultation.
4 Must-Have Qualities in a Caregiver 4 Must-Have Qualities in a Caregiver 4 Must-Have Qualities in a Caregiver 4 Must-Have Qualities in a Caregiver 4 Must-Have Qualities in a Caregiver

4 Must-Have Qualities in a Caregiver

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Caregiving

Are You Ready to Be a Caregiver to an Aging Loved One?

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Being a caregiver to a family member can be rewarding, but it can also take a toll on your emotions, your finances and your family. While you may feel like you have no choice, there are resources that you can consider if you don’t feel like caregiving is the right choice for you.

It doesn’t have to destroy your family bond. Even if you don’t take on the full role of caregiver, you can still have a strong, active role in ensuring your aging parent is safe and healthy. If you have siblings or other family members you can rely on, you can all work together to find the best solution for your parent.

No matter what you decide, you shouldn’t feel guilty about your decision. Becoming a family member’s caregiver alters the relationship. It increases stress and it impacts your finances since you will likely have to step back from work or cover costs of necessities not covered by insurance. Of course, there are also many benefits to caregiving. You will strengthen the bond you have with your caree. You will have the comfort of knowing you did the best you could for the person you love. You will get to spend quality time together at a time where there may not be much time left.

Before jumping into caregiving, consider these questions. Answer them honestly and if in the end, you don’t think you can become a full-time caregiver, decide how much you can do and work with other family members to ensure your parent is cared for and you are all in it together.

Q: Can You Accept Your Loved One’s Old Age?

A: Watching someone you love grow old can be hard and your reaction to it may surprise you. You may get frustrated with them for not being able to do things they used to, or you may coddle them and do too much, making them feel useless.

Q: Do you like this person, not just because they are family?

A: If your relationship has always had conflict, know that it may be exacerbated when they are sick or uncomfortable. If the relationship isn’t solid from the start, it may be difficult to serve as their caregiver.

Q: Can you adjust to having a different role?

A: When a person becomes dependent, it may force their caregiver to take on a new role as the leader. It can be difficult for both of you to adjust to. There may be times where they are doing things that are unsafe or not healthy and you will have to correct the behavior. Are you comfortable doing this?

Q: Are you overburdened?

A: If you already have a full plate – a job, children, spouse, personal obligations – consider what it would take to fit one more responsibility on your plate. You may begin to feel guilty that you can’t do more to help your parent, or aren’t around enough for your children, or you may begin to resent your new role. These feelings are normal. Try to find ways to relieve the pressure and more efficient ways to get things done. If it is just too much for one person to do, bring in other support or outsource responsibilities.

If you do decide to proceed as the caregiver, be sure to care for yourself in the process. You won’t do anyone any good of you don’t first care for yourself. Here are some quick self-care tactics and signs of caregiver stress to keep in mind.

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Woman examining medication treatment, several boats in the hand, conceptual image
Caregiving

How to Create a Caregiver Command Center

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Smoothly With A Command Center

Caregiving requires organization. Few caregivers have only one obligation – caring for a loved one – so juggling all of the tasks and managing your own life requires some serious organization. If you aren’t organized, you’ll become frustrated, stressed out and possibly drop a few balls here and there.

Of course, many caregivers are thrust into their role without much planning and it can be hard to create an organization system that will work for your family on the fly. If you were thrust into caregiving and are trying to figure out some sort of organization system, I highly recommend creating a Caregiver Command Center. It’s much less complicated that it sounds. Essentially, it is a space in your home where you house your caregiving life.

In my home, I have two small “Command Centers” since I don’t have any one large area to keep our life on track. One area is dedicated to knowing where everyone needs to be and the other is dedicated to housing whatever we need to get out the door. For example, my youngest son had picture day at school and my husband needed to take the order form. It placed it on the shelf near the door, under his wallet and keys so he wouldn’t forget it. Having drop zones as part of your Command Center will ensure that you don’t forget something important as you rush out the door.

Creating A Caregiver Command Center

Every home and family functions differently so you’ll need to decide on what will work best for your family. That being said, there are essentials that everyone needs to remain organized. Here are some elements to include in your Caregiver Command Center.

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.)

Central Location or Command Center Zones: The best way to stay on top of your caregiving tasks is to have a specific home for all things caregiving. In my case, since I’m in a very small home, I have two “zones” where we keep important information/things. I use the outside of our kitchen pantry door as our information center. I keep a calendar, cork board and dry erase board there and keep any important paperwork that is needed for appointments on the board until after the appointment. I also have a zone near the door where we keep our keys. It has hooks for bags and backpacks and a small shelf to keep paperwork that we need to take with us. If you have a larger area, you can store your caregiving medical file and any related paperwork for your caree (applications, vendor contracts, etc.).

Keep A Visible Master Calendar: I keep an electronic calendar on my phone, but I also use a wall calendar decal so that everyone can see what we have going on. I also use different colors for different activities since I want to make sure we don’t miss them. I love using a dry erase calendar since appointments/activities get canceled and I don’t want a calendar full of scribbles. I also have a calendar on my phone so that I can make appointments on the go. It is much easier to schedule a medical appointment while you’re at the office, versus waiting until you get home to call.

File/Paperwork System: Every time I go to the doctor, I get a post-visit summary and occasionally, a referral to another doctor. I keep referrals pinned to my corkboard until I make the appointment and I have a file for medical paperwork. That way, I don’t have to spend a ton of time searching for what I need. If your caree has a medical condition, I highly recommend creating a medical file where you keep all of their paperwork. If your command center is big enough, you can keep the file there, or do what I do and only keep paperwork that requires an action in the command center and file everything else in a specific location.

Contact List: I had a client who had a list of every phone number she could possibly need taped to the wall next to her phone. It was a fantastic idea as she had dementia and had many caregivers in the home who might need to contact someone on the list. In addition to a family contact list, you should have a service provider list (think plumber, electrician, cable provider, etc.) and a medical contact list. Keeping everything on one list makes things easier when you’re in a hurry.

Medications/Supplies: If you live with your caree and are tasked with their medication, it may be helpful to create a medication space in your command center. If you don’t have space, then make a small medication zone where you do have space (preferably not in the bathroom as some medications lose effectiveness in humid spaces). I have a section of my kitchen counter dedicated to my vitamins (I take a lot) and a pretty tray on my dresser to house my prescription medication. Everything is stored in those spaces so I know exactly where they are. If your caree has special instructions for certain medications or a specific schedule to keep to, print it out and keep it in that zone.

You may have other elements to your caregiving that you will want to add to your command center. The thing about organization is that it has to work for you, so it may take a few tweaks to make your command center work for you. I have changed my systems over time as my needs change. The key is to create a workable system for your caregiving situation.

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Caregiving

How Caregivers Heal after the Sacrifice

by Carol Marak
written by Carol Marak

Family members at times take on the role of caregiving suddenly, assuming the tasks of helping a loved one without knowing what they’re giving up. In most cases, people don’t recognize their sacrifice and view the tasks as administering medications, preparing meals, giving rides, and making arrangements to live with their loved–all for the sake of the right thing to do.

How caregiving effects adults who step into the role:

Helping my parents through elder care put life on hold and I focused on their personal needs more than my own.

Deferred retirement to maintain the 6 figure income to cover my Mother’s assisted living or nursing home expenses, when unable to care for her at home.

Retired to give my Mom 24/7 care, we were able to cover the expenses without any real issues. She lived with me in my home until the end. The cost to me was in a personal and social life.

I gave up every weekend and one week a month, sacrificing 1/4 of my salary to unpaid family leave for mom-care for about 4 years. Eventually, lost my job because she was dying and I would not leave her in home hospice alone.

The Impact of a Care Recipient’s Death

A caregiver’s life is forever changed when the loved one passes away. So much of the caregiver’s sense of self came from providing care. This is the time when the family member feels lost and alone.

The caregiver’s purpose is tied up in caring for another and their identify ripped away. Now, they have no ties to providing care, the caregiver is left without someone to care for. The family member may feel useless and abandoned.

Having invested so much time and attention into giving care, it’s difficult to shift the focus–on you, the caregiver. The following tips are from Crossroads Hospice:

  • Use rituals as a tool to help cope with grief
  • Allow whatever you’re feeling
  • Take time-outs from grieving
  • Seek help from a licensed therapist
  • Reach out to others to re-establish relationships
  • Lean on family and friends
  • Get rest and exercise
  • Practice daily prayer or meditation

 

Family caregiving demands a great deal of life changes to meet the care of a terminally ill loved one. The care you gave diminished the focus on your own needs. So, be gentle with yourself and work towards healing. The role of the caregiver isn’t who you are.

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