Defining the help you need as a caregiver is a critical step, and it may be difficult at first. Recognize that caregiving, like all jobs, is made up of lots of individual tasks, not all of which are of the same importance. A critical piece is to write down all that you do, even the "little things."
1. List all of your care-giving related tasks that need to get done during a typical week.
2. Group your list into categories: personal care for your loved one, transportation, household chores, health care activities.
3. List your care-giving worries (for example, who will care for my loved one if I get sick? What will happen to my loved one if she falls when I'm not home?)
4. Show your list to others (e.g. a family member, good friend, your health care provider or nurse, etc.) to generate more ideas and insights. The intent is first to get comfortable with the idea of talking about your need for assistance, and hopefully get some encouragement and good ideas in the process.
5. Finally do it! Take a deep breath and actually ask someone to help with one of the tasks on your list, or ask for guidance in resolving your most persistent worry. Start with something small, but start!
Though getting help takes work (and energy you might not have right now), it is worth doing. Keep in mind that the goal of getting help is better care for your loved one - and for yourself.
Defining the help you need as a caregiver is a critical step, and
it may be difficult at first. Recognize that caregiving, like all
jobs, is made up of lots of individual tasks, not all of which are
of the same importance. A critical piece...
More
Defining the help you need as a caregiver is a critical step, and it may be difficult at first. Recognize that caregiving, like all jobs, is made up of lots of individual tasks, not all of which are of the same importance. A critical piece is to write down all that you do, even the "little things."
HealthyWomen answered:Don't be afraid to ask family and friends for help. Ask for ongoing assistance, such as asking your mother's friend to take her shopping once a month. List all the tasks that need to be done, and ask each volunteer to commit to one task. You can also look into hiring someone to help with caregiving duties. See if there is a support team or care team network in your area or church or through an end-of-life local coalition. A good starting point is the Eldercare Locator, a service of the Administration on Aging at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, located at ElderCare.gov. For private help, contact the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care at CareManager.org.
