“Last October I had to cut back on my hours at work to help take care of my 74 year old mother. Recently her health has declined and she now is requiring more assistance than she has in the past. I have no other siblings to help out but I am not sure that I can continue to provide her the care she needs by myself. I feel so overwhelmed most days that I just wish I could get away but I know there is no one else to take care of mom. ”
-Overwhelmed in Ohio
Dear Overwhelmed in Ohio,
Although it’s hard to ask for help,
it’s even harder to provide care alone! It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for
help. Instead, it’s an important step in making sure the care receiver gets the
help he or she needs. Sometimes caregivers feel like they’re carrying the whole
load and there is nowhere to turn to for help. Here are some resources that can
help:
·
Like anything new, it may feel uncomfortable to
ask for help. The following are ideas will help you get started.
o
Figure out what help is needed. Make sure you
think about everything you could use help with, not just direct caregiving
jobs. Other people may find it easier to do yard work, home repairs, laundry,
or preparing meals that to provide direct care. Anything that will lighten your
load is important.
o
Make a list of what needs to be done.
o
Check off what you can reasonably do.
o
Decide what’s realistic for family and friends
to do
o
Find out if there are any services, and
resources available in the community to help.
·
Contact
your state’s Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP)
Experienced caregiver specialist or advocates offer you practical advice and
emotional support. Either in person or by phone, these professionals listen to
your questions and concerns and understand the challenges you face. They are a
valuable resources in gaining access to services for both you and the care
receiver. The following are some of the many ways the Family Caregiver Support
Program may be of help to you
o
Caregiving
counseling or consultation
§
A counselor or consultant can help you learn to
cope more effectively with the emotional demands, or even depression, that can
result from caregiving.
o
Caregiver
support groups
§
A great way to learn from others who have been
in similar situations to yours and can give you new ideas to cope with trying
times.
o
Caregiver
training
§
You can learn a variety of self-care tools, and
strategies to reduce your stress, communicate more effectively with family and
healthcare providers, deal with difficult feelings, and make tough caregiving
decisions.
o
Respite
Care
§
A service where another trained person or staff
at a facility can provide short-term care for a few hours to a few days for
your loved one giving you some time away from caregiving. Respite care can be
in your home, through an adult day center, or at a residential care facility.
·
Be prepared for choosing a residential care
facility when care at home is no longer possible.
o
Although the person you care for may not need
residential care now, it’s wise to prepare for that possibility. Plan ahead and
know what your options are before a crisis.
§
Learn more about choosing the best option for
residential care in our next blog!
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Caregivers, do you have any specific questions pertaining to this blog?
We are here to help you! If you have any further questions for our
experts, please post them in the comment box below or email them to
asu.ask.an.ot@gmail.com. Questions are reviewed and answered weekly. Each expert is a
registered and licensed occupational therapist. Visit ASK an OT's first blog
post to read more about our experts, Dr. Susan Philhower Denham Ed.D, OTR/L,
CHT and Dr. Jewell J. Dickson, OTD, MPH, OTR/L, ATP.
Disclaimer: The information contained on this blog is
intended for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice,
substitute for medical advice, nor is it a referral for occupational
therapy services. You should consult a physician regarding medical diagnosis or
treatment.
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