7 Things Every Caregiver Must Know, Pt II

4. Understand that you may be on an emotional roller-coaster and if you are, that is okay. A wide range of emotions occurs during the time of taking care of a family member or friend. Sadness, anger, guilt, and resentment are just a few of the emotions that you may experience. As long as these emotions are short-lived, accept them as a normal part of the caregiver’s life. If you seem bogged down in an emotion or become depressed, you may want to get some counseling to help you deal with the stress of the situation.

5. Support groups can give you the support you need. Most people shy away from support groups because they do not want to talk about what is going on in their life, but they can be a huge source of support for caregivers. Join a support group to learn techniques for dealing with this change in your life.

6. Realize that your patient is going to have ups and downs, too. Your friend or family member is going through an illness and this means that they are going through a range of emotions, too. Understand that a blow-up at you may not really be about you, but about the illness that they are battling. Support them in dealing with their illness on their own terms.

7. When you have done all that you can do, it may be time to get more specialized help. This may mean that you have to find more specialized care in a nursing home. When you are not able to take care of your family member or friend anymore, then you need to allow someone else to take care of them. This does not mean that you are bad or uncaring. It means that you are not able to care for them the way that you want. This can be due to your age, health, or life situation. If the help needed is beyond your capabilities, then get them the help that they need. This is best for them and for you.

Being a caregiver may be for a short season of your life or a long one, but by considering the seven thoughts above, you can better take care of yourself and your friend or family member.

7 Things Every Caregiver Must Know, Pt I

Taking care of a spouse, parent, or other family member or friend is not an easy task. Being their caregiver takes devotion and balance to make sure that you take care of their needs, as well as your own. There are seven things that every caregiver should know to be able to take care of their needs and that of their family member or friend.

1. Allow your friend or family member to do everything that they are able to do. This is very important, as it gives them some control over their life. Being a caregiver does not mean taking complete control over them and treating them as a child. If they are still able to bathe and take care of other personal needs, then let them do so as long as they are able. They will have a better frame of mind and have a better attitude. This is better for you and for them.

2. Establish a relationship with a doctor that your family member and you trust and feel comfortable with. Being a caregiver does not necessarily mean that you are a medical professional. Unless you are in the medical profession, there are things that you may not understand about taking care of your patient and their disease or condition. Having a doctor that will take the time to answer your questions and assist you when needed is a very important relationship that every caregiver should take time to create.

3. Take time for yourself. It is very easy to live life day to day giving care to your friend or family member without taking time for yourself, only to find yourself burnt out and tired. Take time for yourself by arranging respite care with another family member or a respite care service can give you that time to recuperate and regain focus and energy. This can be very important over a long illness, so that you are able to care for your friend or family member with compassion and dedication without burning out.