Five Helpful Tips for Caregivers
Caregiving is challenging, but the right resources and support can help smoothen the experience. In honor of National Family Caregivers month this November, we’ve compiled Five Helpful Tips for Caregivers to add some ease to your caregiving journey.
Take care of you
Caregiving is physically and emotionally demanding, and it's many caregivers' instinct to put who they're caring for above all else. This can make it challenging to make time for yourself.
Try to take even just a few moments a day to yourself, whether that's through meditation, physical movement, eating a meal mindfully, or reading before bed. Find what makes you feel good and prioritize that.
Joining a caregiver support group, or seeking counseling can also be a highly beneficial way of seeking mental support for the demands caregiving place on an individual.
Remember: You can't pour from an empty cup.
Be inclusive
Learning to act and communicate in an inclusive way is important for building safety and trust with your loved one.
Include your loved one in conversations, and avoid assuming they can't understand what's being said.
Whether they've lost touch with their verbal skills, rely on gestures to communicate, or simply don't have the right words to express their needs, it's important to find a way to communicate with them that makes them feel heard and seen.
Remember to be patient, loving, and recognize they're doing their best, just like you.
Stay up to date with best practices
Like many other professional sectors, caregiving has evolved over the years. New resources, tools, and support have made the job of a caregiver run more smoothly, and have allowed the person being cared for to live a more dignified, connected life.
Consider taking a caregiving certificate course at your local community college, joining a caregivers support group where ideas and resources are shared, or subscribing to newsletters like that of Caregiver Action Network.
These types of things can make all the difference in your journey as a caregiver.
Accept support
It's often the inclination of a caregiver to take it all on, all the time. But caregiving is a massive task to undertake alone.
Whether someone offers to bring you a meal, pick up groceries or medications, or to sit with the person you're caring for so you can have a break, don't hesitate to accept that support.
Many people sincerely want to help, and their offers are genuine. You deserve to accept the help offered to you.
Consider an Adult Day Program (ADP)
Leaving your loved one in the care of other hands can feel scary, and you may even feel some guilt over the idea. This is your reminder that there is nothing wrong with needing some respite from your caregiving duties.
Adult Day Programs (ADPs) offer that respite by helping less-independent older adults remain physically and mentally active, while offering opportunities for socialization and personal growth in a stimulating, safe, and caring environment. Many programs are free to those who qualify.
If you’re local to the West Valley communities of Saratoga, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Cupertino, Campbell, or San Jose, learn more about the Saratoga Adult Care Center at www.sascc.org/adult-day-program.
To find an ADP near you, contact your local Area Agency on Aging. You can find that information at www.eldercare.acl.gov.