New Caregivers
When people hear "caregiver," they often think only of professional caregivers – nurses, nursing assistants, and home health aides. In fact, most caregivers are family members or friends. Caregivers are anyone who gives assistance to another adult who is ill, disabled, or needs some help. They may be the daughter who moves in with her ailing mother, the neighbor who stops by to check on an older friend, or the man who drives his mother-in-law to her doctor visits.
The caregiver may live in the same house, in a nearby town, or even in another state. The care may range from modest tasks to heavy-duty, round-the-clock assistance. And, while each person's experience is unique, the following are common challenges that many caregivers face:
- Less time for personal and family life. Caregiving takes time. As a result, caregivers have less time to spend with other family members or less leisure time for themselves.
- The need to balance job and caregiving responsibilities. Caregiving tasks – such as taking your father to the doctor, or talking to a social worker about community services – usually must be done during work hours. This can present problems on the job.
- Financial hardships. The products and services associated with providing care can be costly. Those costs can quickly add up.
- Physical and emotional stress. Caregiving can be physically and emotionally stressful, especially for those providing intense levels of care for long periods of time.
Meeting Needs
Most people do not prepare to be caregivers. The following are some steps that new caregivers can take to address their older loved ones' needs.
Determine housing options and preferences.
- Are your older relatives still able to move freely and do
things around the house?
- Have they thought about living somewhere else? Options to consider could include staying in their current home with some changes or with some help; moving into a retirement community or some form of assisted living; living with relatives or others; or entering a nursing home.
Learn the medical history.
- Do they have any medical conditions or health problems that
are hindering their ability to live independently?
- Who are their doctors?
- What medications do they take?
If your parents are unclear about the details, you may want to ask if you can go with them on their next visit to the doctor.
Make a list of people in their personal support
system.
Get contact information for everyone on the list. These could
include emergency contacts, other close friends and relatives,
neighbors, members of their church, housing managers, and others.
Create a financial profile.
- List sources of income, such as Social Security and pensions,
monthly and yearly income
- List expenses, bank accounts and investments, and statements
of net worth.
- Get important account numbers in case these are needed in an emergency.
Review legal needs.
- Determine which legal documents they need – for
example, wills, advance directives such as living wills and
health proxy forms, trusts, powers of attorney, etc.
- Find out where they keep important documents such as their birth certificate, deed to home and insurance policies.
Gather information about services that can provide
help.
These services include home care, adult day care services,
home-delivered meals, and help with everyday activities.
Take Care of Yourself!
Many caregivers get so caught up in providing care for others that their own needs go unmet. Here are some tips that can help caregivers take care of themselves – especially when they're caring for others.
- Take care of your own health. Eat properly, get regular exercise, and set aside some time each week to do something you enjoy.
- Speak up when you need support or assistance. Ask for help from family and friends before you get to the breaking point.
- Find out about services that help caregivers. Care/case management from a social service agency may be able to link your parents to services and benefits, adult day services. Ask about respite care that can give you a break and about support groups - both in your community and on the Internet.
- Seek help or training to improve your coping skills. Hospitals, volunteer organizations like the Alzheimer's Association, and community service agencies are good places to look for appropriate training programs.
Many people who don't think of themselves as "caregivers" are nevertheless providing regular ongoing care for older friends or relatives. The challenges they face can be daunting. But by being prepared and informed, caregivers can make it easier to meet their own and their loved ones' needs.
AARP Resources
A Home for all
Ages – Universal Design
View the many home features that can make your home
"user-friendly."
Additional Resources
Caregiver Resource Room
Resources compiled by the Administration on Aging's National
Family Caregiver Support Program.
First Gov for
Seniors
The U.S. government's site created to provide Americans with
better access to government services and benefits.
National Parkinson
Foundation
An abundance of information for caregivers.
American Red Cross
For a nominal fee, many Red Cross chapters offer a series of nine one hour presentations aimed to help
caregivers.
