TAKING CARE OF THE CAREGIVERS

Do you have a family member who is caring for a loved one? These caregivers often don't recognize when they are in over their heads and often get to a breaking point. After a prolonged period of time, caregiving can become too difficult to endure any longer. In the short term, the caregiver can usually handle it. But in the long term, help is needed. A typical pattern with an overloaded caregiver may unfold as follows:

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  One to 18 months: The caregiver is confident, has everything under control and is coping well. Other friends and family are lending support.


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  Twenty to 36 months: The caregiver may be taking medication to sleep and control mood swings. Outside help dwindles away and except for trips to the store or doctor, the caregiver has severed most social contacts. The caregiver feels alone and helpless.


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  Thirty-eight to 50 months: Besides needing tranquilizers or antidepressants, the caregiver's physical health is beginning to deteriorate. Lack of focus and sheer fatigue cloud judgment and the caregiver is often unable to make rational decisions or ask for help.

It is often at this stage that family or friends finally intercede and find other solutions for care. This might include respite care, hiring home-health aides or putting the disabled loved one in a facility. Without intervention sooner, the caregiver might become a candidate for long-term care as well.

Have you and your spouse made a promise to eac other that you would never put the other in a nursing home? You might want to reconsider such a pact. Care-giving spouses will often sacrifice themselves to care for a disabled partner. The care-giving spouse might not ever place their partner in a nursing home because of the guilt that would arise from breaking such a promise. Often, the care at the nursing home is better than that previously provided by the deteriorated spouse. It is best to have a plan in place before this occurs.

Especially with the holiday season upon us, caregivers feel even more stress - with planning, shopping and participating in holiday activities. This is a perfect time for family and friends to step up and provide some respite time and care-giving help. Whether it is provided personally or arranged as a gift of services to be provided by a professional respite company or home care provider, it is a welcome gift.

If you are the one providing daily care for a loved one, you owe it to yourself to seek help. Take care of yourself and your needs, both physically and mentally. Seek out professional help that will ease your burden and look for community service organizations that offer respite help. Take a few minutes to find help you need, and enjoy this holiday season.

source: www.the timesherald.com