Help for Family Caregivers
Utilizing Caregiver Resources Can Improve Quality of Life
Helping elderly parents or a sick spouse or child can be overwhelming. More and more caregiver help is now available. Using it can ultimately help save time and energy.
Knowing where to find and take advantage of family caregiver resources can ultimately make certain aspects of the difficult job of caring for a sick loved one easier. Though finding resources may sound like just another chore that there is no time in the day for, enlisting help will actually save time and aggravation in the long run.
Caregiver Resources: Where to Start
An excellent comprehensive list of where to find different types of help is available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Family Caregiver Support Program.
Legal and Financial Resources for Caregivers
Ideally, financial planning should be done while everyone is healthy, but it is never too late to address these matters. An attorney who specializes in elder care law is a necessary resource who can help families preserve their financial assets in order to maximize control over the health care choices they will need to make.
Most telephone directories list attorneys by specialty, or the local bar association can provide referrals. Do not settle for someone who does not specifically state that they specialize in elder law. The elder law attorney can also help you prepare necessary documents such as health care proxies, living wills, and durable powers of attorney.
In-Home Services
Caring for a person in her own or the caregiver's home often requires in-home services such as visiting nurses, meals on wheels, home companions or home heath care aids. Individual family members usually end up trying to provide all of this help by themselves, and can eventually become swamped and experience caregiver burnout. To find services, start with your local town senior center, or county or state office of the aging and ask them to direct you.
Respite and Self-Care for Caregivers
It is critical that family members who are taking on a large portion of the burden take advantage of respite services. Caregivers are at increased risk of becoming ill themselves because they tend to neglect their health and become overly stressed. Taking time away from caregiver duties to recharge is essential. To locate respite services, start with the local agencies and offices listed in the paragraph above. Respite services are sometimes provided free of charge.
In addition, understanding the signs of caregiver burnout and how to prevent it is crucial to the caregiver’s well being. Signing up for on-line e-newsletters such as Caregiver.com can educate those providing care while helping them feel less isolated.
Housing Considerations
Sometimes placement in an assisted living facility or nursing home is indicated. In the U.S., contact your State Department of Health for a listing of licensed facilities.
The Care Guide, which can be found online, provides a comprehensive listing of useful resources regarding housing options and community support services in Canada.
Disease Education Resources
Depending on the disease experienced by the patient, troubling and puzzling behaviors can make caring for loved ones an increasingly difficult challenge. Dementia and delusions can pose particularly challenging situations. Helping to understand the disease can help you make better choices. Contact an organization specific to your loved one's disease to learn more.
Family caregiverss are thrust into a role that they have had no training for, and that they would not have chosen, were it not for circumstances beyond their control. Adding such responsibilities to a life that may already include a job, spouse and children can be overwhelming. In recognition of this fact, governments have begun to invest money in supporting and supplying resources to family caregivers, in order to help them with their difficult task. Utilizing these resources can truly help.
