Whether you are just starting out on your caregiving journey or are a ways down the road, it’s always a good idea to have as many resources at your fingertips as you can.
Here are five different ways to gather resources that can support your role as a family caregiver.
1. Learn as much as you can about your loved one’s condition.
Whether it’s Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, stroke or simply what to expect as someone ages, doing a deep dive into the topic can help you better understand what your loved one is experiencing now and may experience in the future. Tap into resources like the Alzheimer’s Association, the Parkinson’s Foundation, the American Cancer Society, and the American Heart Association, which are all great places to start.
2. Connect to a support group.
Caregiving can sometimes be very isolating. You might feel like no one understands what you’re going through. And unless someone has been in a similar situation, they probably won’t. Learning from and leaning on people in your area who have shared experiences can provide welcomed emotional support and a wealth of knowledge, both of which can help you be the best caregiver you can be.
3. Assemble a team.
As the person who is probably most knowledgeable about and in closest proximity to your older loved one, you can think of yourself as the captain of the caregiving team. But being the captain doesn’t mean you play every position. Key members of the caregiving team include your loved one’s primary care physician as well as any specialists like a neurologist or cardiologist, your pharmacist, elder care attorneys, insurance representatives and home care agencies. If other members of the family serve as health care power of attorney or financial power of attorney, they should be recruited to the team as well.
4. Leverage community resources.
Until you have a need for a specific type of support, you may not be aware of the many community-based resources there are at your disposal. You can find your local Area Agency on Aging by visiting this website.
You can find out about meal delivery services, transportation assistance, nutrition counseling, caregiving and respite programs, and social activities offered in your area.
Take advantage of the growing availability of grocery delivery services and prescription delivery services. Lightening your load is key to spending valuable time with your loved one.
5. Reference family caregiving guides.
SYNERGY HomeCare has a number of great family resource guides available here.
Titles include A Memory Care Family Resource Guide, which I wrote for SYNERGY HomeCare, the Family Caregiver Ultimate Guide, Fall Prevention Guide, Returning Home from the Hospital, and Navigating the Cancer Journey.
You can also consult my books, A Dementia Caregiver’s Guide to Care and A Dementia Caregiver Called Action, both available on Amazon.
At the end of the day, you have a lot on your plate as a family caregiver. But by taking the time to gather a list of various resources available to you, you can enhance your loved one’s quality of life while giving yourself more time to engage with your loved one as a family member, not a caregiver.
Dr. Macie P. Smith is a licensed gerontology social worker who is focused on helping families support their aging loved ones through long-term care. Specifically, Dr. Smith educates caregivers on how to care for seniors with dementia. She is an advocate for specialized care and assists others in finding a way to provide a better quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Dr. Smith has dedicated over 22 years of her life working in gerontology and assisting families in finding personalized solutions for dementia care. For more articles by Dr. Macie Smith, go to https://synergyhomecare.com/blog/.
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