Article - The Caregiver Blues

Have you recently become a caregiver? Then you've joined a not-so exclusive club. According to the 2003 National Alliance for Caregiving/AARP National Caregiver Survey, at least 44.4 million adults provide unpaid care that is critical in helping adult friends and loved ones with debilitating illnesses.

Sometimes it happens suddenly. Sometimes you have time to prepare for it. No matter what the timing is, if you are like most people, you haven't adequately prepared yourself for the role of caregiver. You don't realize the life altering changes it will create in your daily routine. Without the proper tools and support, the demands of caregiving could be greater than you might think.

Clinical research studies have shown that caregiving can compromise the caregiver's health. Physical exhaustion and back injuries are common. There is another, less obvious, health hazard that affects nearly one-third of those who care for terminally ill loved ones at home. According to a study authored by Holly Prigerson, associate professor of psychiatry and epidemiology and public health at the Yale School of Medicine, millions of caregivers suffer from depression.

Caregivers are hesitant to speak up about the difficulty of the job. Other family members who are not involved with the daily routine commonly do not understand the physical and emotional demands involved. This leaves caregivers feeling isolated and believing that "I am the only one feeling this way." However, the reality is millions of family caregivers feel the same way. When these feelings are not addressed, it can lead to depression and other health problems. This could prevent you from providing the proper care needed for your loved one.

So where do you turn for help when you become overwhelmed? There are many books, videos, support groups, online forums and health organizations that provide information and assistance for caregivers. The staff at Dynamic-Living.com offers the following suggestions and resources to help cope with the demands of being a caregiver.

Organizations

Most health organizations dedicated to a specific disease or disability, such as Alzheimer's or Multiple Sclerosis, provide resources and assistance for caregivers. The services provided may include educational classes, support groups, counseling, care management and transportation. These organizations are experienced with the special needs for the population they serve and can frequently recommend ways to help and help you find the resources you need.

Religious and community organizations often have support groups. Sometimes there are volunteers that have been through this part of the life cycle and can provide resources. These volunteers often offer a shoulder to lean on or even their time so a caregiver can have some respite.

Online support groups have sprouted up around all sorts of topics of interest to caregivers. For example, we found www.caregiving.com which offers newsletters, support groups and answers to common caregiving questions.

Professionals

The Visiting Nurse Association, local Hospice facilities, and professional caregiving service providers are all available to help out for a fee. Sometimes these services are covered by insurance providers, and sometimes there are city or state funded grants that are designed to support caregivers.

Adult day care is an option in many communities. While offering respite for the caregiver, these facilities often provide much needed activities and opportunities to socialize for the care recipient.

Eldercare counselors, your local Area Agency on Aging, Senior Centers and others have a variety of programs and counselors that can help you.

Books and Videos

Some of the best books are written by people who have 'been there, done that'. Reading someone else's story is a very private way to reaffirm your own feelings. Or you can find books written by professionals, like The Complete Guide to Alzheimer's Proofing Your Home by Mark L. Warner. This book demonstrates how to create a home environment that helps you cope with the difficulties associated with Alzheimer's and related dementias.

Videos such as "The Educated Caregiver" offer tools, tips, and advice on how to deal with almost every aspect of caregiving, including interviews with doctors and other health professionals. Topics range from how to lift or transfer a care-receiver to how to cope with the emotional aspects of caregiving.

Make sure you take care of yourself

• Say "yes" when someone offers help.

• Take time for yourself, even if it's just a few minutes. Take a walk, read a book, work on a puzzle. And don't feel guilty about little acts of self indulgence. You deserve what everyone else takes for granted.

• Express yourself. Find someone to talk to or write to who understands. This simple act of putting your thoughts into words can help lessen the feelings of isolation.

Caregiving is the fastest growing, unpaid profession in America. Whether full time or part time, being a caregiver can put you on a physical and emotional roller coaster. While it may feel like you are the only one who is in this situation, you are not alone. And there are lots of ways that you can get the help you need. The first step is to recognize the valuable job you are doing. The second step is knowing that you really don't have to handle it all by yourself.

© Copyright 2005 Dynamic Living, Inc.
Dynamic Living Newsletter may only be redistributed in its unedited form. Written permission from the editor must be obtained to reprint or cite the information contained within this newsletter.

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