| Where to Turn for Help |
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How to Ask for Help When You're the One Providing It According to the National Center on Caregiving, approximately 44 million Americans will provide 37 billion hours of care for family members or friends this year. That may include helping an elderly neighbor prepare their meals, or assisting a family member perform basic activities after surgery. Because caregiving so frequently refers to unpaid, informal care provided by a family member or loved one, it's not uncommon for caregivers to feel overwhelmed. Often caregivers are sons, daughters, friends, or neighbors with families and careers of their own. If you are a caregiver, juggling your own commitments and caregiving can be difficult. Maybe it's time to seek help. So whom can you turn to? If you are employed, a good place to start is your organization's HR department. Your company may have resources about caregiving or some sort of assistance program for employees who are caregivers. If caregiving is becoming a financial burden, it may help to contact your state's Department of Health and Human Services, Area Agency on Aging or any local agencies that provide caregiving, about possible programs providing financial support. Creating a budget to manage your own living expenses and the expense of caring for your loved one is also a useful tool to assist in decreasing the financial stress of caregiving. In addition to the financial burden, caregiving can require an extensive time commitment. Depending on the severity of your loved one's situation, full time care may be required. Consider taking advantage of local adult day care programs which can provide your loved one with healthcare services as well as social and recreational activities. If physical disability is causing your loved one to require round-the-clock care, consider looking into mobility aids, such as a power chair, which may be covered partially or fully under insurance. Perhaps the most difficult part of caregiving is the emotional stress it may induce. Watching a loved one's health decline, despite continued efforts on your part, is difficult and often frustrating. Don't deal with this alone. Support groups can provide an outlet for caregivers to exchange tips and meet with others going through similar situations. Planning lunches or day trips with other caregivers and their loved ones may help ward off feelings of isolation or frustration. Caregiving can be a rewarding experience if caregivers know where and who to turn to for help. The following links can provide further information in support of caregivers. Caregiving.com A blogging site where caregivers can exchange tips, stories and form support groups. National Alliance for Caregiving A nonprofit coalition of numerous organizations that focus on issues pertaining to caregiving.
Article submitted by the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Michigan |