 | Sue Heersche is the Education Coordinator for Faith. Faith Home Health and Hospice provides care for patients throughout all stages of life, wherever they consider their home. Karen Sue graduated from Wichita State University with a Masters in Nursing Administration. has worked in a variety of nursing settings including home health, acute and sub-acute care, and surgery. You can contact our office at 316-618-6800. |
Health & Medicine
2006-10-01 10:54:00
Caring for caregivers
QUESTION: How can we help care for a caregiver?
ANSWER: There are no two caregivers or care giving situations alike. Caregivers come in all shapes, sizes and categories. He or she may be a neighbor next door, a family member or even a professional you have hired. Sometimes, the role of “caregiver” is a choice. Other times, the named caregiver is all a person has. If you are like me, you have raised your kids and feel proficient with the role of caregiver. Just remember, caregiving can look similar to raising a child, but also it can be quite different. You become the nurse, insurance expert, medications manager, gofer, transportation, and social worker, while still managing your own personal needs and family life.
The burdens of our health care system have been placed upon the shoulders of caregivers on a daily basis. Keeping up with doctors appointments, medication changes, and dealing with our loved one ’s self care needs is a small sample of these complexities. If caregivers went on strike today, someone would have to find almost 200 billion dollars each year to replace the work caregivers do for no salary and often with little support.
According to the latest statistics, there are almost 54 million caregivers in the country today. Who are they? They are you and me. With the growing Baby Boomer population, we will all be exposed to the caregiver role at some level. Caregivers have to acknowledge when their loved one needs increased help. Putting resources in place earlier than later can create a better balance in the caring role. Primary caregivers also need to ask for help from friends, family, or whomever. It is so important that caregivers take care of themselves. You may be able to do a lot, but you may not be able to do it all. Just remember that a sick, injured, or emotionally worn out caregiver is not good for you or the one you are caring for.
Here are a few recommendations to help caregivers nurture themselves:.
1. Take one hour each day just to read, enjoy a hot bath, journal your thoughts, or call a friend.
2. Go to a support group meeting, senior fair, or caregiver event.
3. Get away for a while. Make sure your loved one is in trusted hands and step out of the house for a few hours.
4. Go to a museum, shop for yourself, get a manicure, or just sit in the back yard and enjoy the silence.
5. Make a date with a family member or friend.
6. Smile! It’s funny how often we forget to do this simple act and how it lifts our spirits.
There are many good community resources for caregivers from private duty care to agencies like Faith Home Health and Hospice, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Department on Aging and many others. These are examples of agencies that can provide various levels of assistance. If you are a family hero, or caregiver, caring for someone you love can be one of the greatest rewards. Keep up the good work!
