November is National Family Caregivers Month in the U.S.

Photo by the Centre for Ageing Better on Unsplash

The Caregiver Action Network

The Caregiver Action Network (CAN) is the nation’s leading family caregiver organization, focused on improving the quality of life for the more than 90 million Americans who care for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, diseases or for elderly friends or family.

It provides education, peer support and resources to family caregivers across the country, free of charge.

Learn more at caregiveraction.org.

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NATIONWIDE — This November, the Caregiver Action Network (CAN) is sharing seven issues caregivers wish they’d known before they began the journey.

Educate yourself

Learning about your loved one’s disease or condition can make the task of caregiving less daunting. Many conditions have online resources about the condition and its progression, treatment options and management tips. Your loved one’s doctor or healthcare provider may be able to share any tips and tricks that they’ve picked up from their work within healthcare. You can also find information on some of the common conditions caregivers encounter on the CAN page titled “Caring by Condition.”

Understanding your loved one’s condition is important. It can help you comprehend what they are going through. Knowing what to expect may ease some of the anxiety and uncertainty you and your loved one have about the future.

The loss of independence is difficult to grapple with, and it could be accompanied by anxiety, frustration, loneliness, feeling unsafe, poor health, memory loss and worry over finances.

Creating a space of understanding can help ease frustration for both you and your loved one.

Learn how to manage your own emotions and reactions

There are some things you will not be able to do, and that’s OK. If things feel out of control, just try to be there for your loved one; don’t focus on what you can’t control.

Concentrate on time spent with your loved one: cook or bake, garden together, go sightseeing locally, do crafts, play games, read or exercise together.

Keep a file

The single most important thing you can do to function effectively as a caregiver is to create and maintain a comprehensive file of information about the person you are caring for. Staying organized can help manage the stress that comes with caregiving.

Set routines

Establishing a routine can help you stay organized. Creating a reliable living environment can also relieve some anxiety that your loved one may be experiencing.

Record expenses, bills, details about in-home health services.

Keep notes about doctors’ appointments—and take notes during the appointments.

Record details of phone conversations relating to your loved one’s care.

Take care of yourself

Taking care of yourself is the key to avoiding caregiver burnout. Set aside time for taking care of yourself by scheduling it into your day. Self-care can involve eating a balanced diet, drinking enough water, exercising, setting boundaries and getting enough sleep. Tips on how to cope with caregiver burnout can be found at caregiveraction.org.

Find resources to help you cope

Technology can be a useful tool to manage the challenges of caregiving. There are apps that can help manage caregiving.

Caring Village is available to both Android and iPhone users, and allows caregivers to make to-do lists, create care plans, keep a calendar, keep a medication list, store documents, and keep a wellness journal.

Lotsa Helping Hands is available for iPhone users and on Google Play. Caregivers can create centralized calendars that are shared with their support circle, allow others to offer words of encouragement, post announcements for members of their care team, and allow members of their community to volunteer help.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

This transition into caregiving can be stressful, and it is important to know that you are not alone. There are online and in-person support resources. The Agencies and Organizations resource on the CAN site provides a list of trusted agencies and organizations that can provide support for new caregivers.

For more information and resources for new caregivers, check out www.caregiveraction.org/i-just-realized-im-family-caregiver-now.

Source: The Caregivers Action Network, www.caregiveraction.org.