Tag Archive for: caregiver

National Family Caregivers Month – Take Time for You

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November is a time to support and honor our nation’s caregivers as part of National Family Caregivers Month. These special individuals devote their lives to providing empathetic care for their family members or friends who are elderly, ill, or disabled. The demands of caregiving can be challenging, overwhelming, and tiresome. It can also be rewarding and fulfilling. Caregivers often give so much of themselves to those they care for, that they are often too tired to care for themselves.

Common family caregiver experiences may include:

  • Tiredness – Most individuals caring for a loved one also work outside of the home in addition to their caregiving responsibilities.
  • Depression – The demands of jugging multiple responsibilities or seeing your loved one age or change due to illness or disability can be upsetting. There is no shame in feeling upset or overwhelmed.
  • Diminished relationships – Caregiving is not a 9-5 job. A loved one may need care around the clock. The emotional, physical, and time demands of care giving may interfere with other relationships.
  • Lack of self care – Caregivers often neglect their own self-care in order to provide for their loved one. This can include not attending medical appointments and not participating in leisure activities.

Caregivers care for their loved ones due to a sense of responsibility, a cultural norm, self-fulfillment, and love. We honor those who provide and recognize the increased difficulty of caregiving, especially since the Covid pandemic.

If you are a family caregiver, here are some useful tips:

  • Seek support from other caregivers: If you have others that are willing to help try to be open to splitting responsibilities. You do not have to do this alone. Also be sure to check out Family Caregiver Support Groups.
  • Increase your own self-care: Make your own mental and physical health a priority and reach out to your physician or mental health counselor if needed.
  • Take a break when you can: Whether it’s a quick nap, sleeping in, or doing something that is relaxing, be sure to take time for yourself.
  • Give yourself credit: You are doing one of the toughest jobs out there. Don’t forget to acknowledge something that went well for you each day and look to that when you need a pick-me-up.

Join us in acknowledging families who are often caregiving for loved ones all day, every day. That means around-the-clock dedication, organization, responsibility, scheduling, and hands-on care. Family caregivers do tremendous work for their family member, neighbor or friend and they deserve support and appreciation. Our team of mental health providers can offer some helpful tools to help. Call 480-882-4545 to schedule an appointment with a NOAH provider.

Sources

  1. National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. Caregiving in the US 2020. Found on the internet at https://www.caregiving.org/research/caregiving-in-the-us/caregiving-in-the-us-2020/
  2. AARP. Valuing the Invaluable 2019 Update: Charting a Path Forward. AARP Public Policy Institute. Nov. 14, 2019. Found on the internet at https://www.aarp.org/ppi/info-2015/valuing-the-invaluable-2015-update.html

Ways to Celebrate Family Caregivers

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While National Family Caregiver Month is recognized in November, it’s important to acknowledge that caregivers deserve to be honored, appreciated, and supported all year. Being a family caregiver over the last two years has been different than in past years.

Caregivers who help family members, friends, or loved ones who are aging in place or dealing with an illness (or both) give so much of themselves year-round. How can you celebrate a caregiver in your life? We have some ideas.

First, understand that caregivers face stress and concern. Caring for older adults and people with chronic illnesses or diseases can be hard, often involving long hours, physical labor, and emotional strain. The constant responsibility can lead to burnout, affecting their own health and well-being. Balancing caregiving duties with personal life, work, and other responsibilities adds to the challenge. The emotional toll of watching a loved one struggle with health issues, combined with the fear of doing something wrong or not being able to provide enough care, can be overwhelming.

This gives everyone even more reason to celebrate these individuals throughout the year! Here are some ideas:

  • Food is always a welcome choice: If you can order meals to be delivered or drop off something for the caregiver so they don’t have to cook for themselves later, it will be a welcome gift.
  • Help stock their supplies: If you know what they need to provide care, you can help out with extra supplies, or even books, games, puzzles, or other activities the patient or caregiver enjoys.
  • Personal pampering for caregivers: A personalized coffee mug for the coffee lover, a calming candle for the caregiver who likes to create a peaceful space, a journal for the writer, and lotion for everyone – because we are all (thankfully) washing our hands a lot more – are all great ways to show appreciation.

Everyone loves a thoughtful gift, but showing gratitude and understanding for the hard work caregivers do every day is one of the nicest ways to celebrate them all year round.