Caregiving 101 Part 2

Opportunities and obstacles of Caregiving

You also need to take a close look at your own situation. The National Family Caregivers Alliance recommends examining your strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities and threats. Call it a SWOT inventory (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats). Your strengths might include your work ethic or your generosity. A list of weaknesses might include a lack of knowledge about healthcare. (If it does, don't worry. You'll get up to speed.) Opportunities might include other close relatives who are willing to help out or a new retirement community opening up down the road. Limited finances and time crunches are common threats. Putting these issues in writing -- and updating them as your situation changes -- can help you keep a clear perspective on your job.

When taking stock of available opportunities, be sure to check out the caregiver support services available in your area. Meals on Wheels, adult day care, home health care agencies, and other programs can make your job much easier. To learn about services near you, contact your local Agency on Aging or go to http://www.eldercare.gov.

If you have close family members living nearby, don't hesitate to ask for help. You may have to try more than once, and you may have to be detailed and specific. In a diplomatic way, tell your brother or sister exactly what needs to be done. And tell them that you can't do everything, a truth that all caregivers eventually have to discover.

Caring for yourself

As a dedicated caregiver, it's easy to push yourself too hard and stretch yourself too thin. If you're not careful, the strain can take a serious toll on your health. Various surveys have found that roughly half of all caregivers suffer from clinical depression. As reported by the Family Caregiver Alliance, the mortality rate for stressed-out caregivers is 63 percent higher than it is for non-caregivers of the same age.

If you don't find a way to care for yourself, you'll never be able to give someone else your best effort. If you feel stressed out or depressed, talk to your doctor about possible therapies. Be sure to get regular exercise, eat well, get plenty of sleep, and find a way to take an occasional break. While it may be true that no one else can offer the kind of care that you provide, it's also true that someone else's efforts will likely be good enough for a long weekend.

No other job out there compares with caregiving. You never applied for the position, and you probably don't have extensive training and education in the caregiving field. Nobody will ever pay you what you're worth, and even your relative may not be able to find enough words to express her gratitude. Despite all that, you accepted the job, for one compelling reason: You can do it.

Further Resources

Area Agency on Aging
For information on support groups, respite providers, and other caregiving services, use the AAA's Eldercare Locator: (800) 677-1116
www.eldercare.gov

Family Caregiver Alliance
(800) 445-8106
http://www.caregiver.org

National Caregivers Library. Has checklists and forms you can fill out to gauge your relative's financial health and expenses, housing and health care needs, and other caregiving issues.
http://www.caregiverslibrary.org

National Council on Seniors Drug & Alcohol Rehab

https://rehabnet.com/