Living Well 60+ March – April 2015 | Page 13

MARCH/APRIL 2015 Friends of Caregivers Can Help 10 ideas for providing support by Lisa M. Petsche, Staff Writer In approximately one quarter of American households, care is provided to someone age 50-plus. In most cases, family members and friends provide all assistance. These unpaid helpers enhance the quality of life for ill older people who might otherwise require placement in a long-term care facility. Typically, they are spouses or offspring, and many are seniors themselves. The loved ones they care for have physical or mental impairment (perhaps both) caused by one or more chronic health conditions, stroke and dementia being most common. The caregiving role involves physical, psychological, emotional and financial demands. It can also be one of life’s most rewarding experiences. The caregiving journey is often long, though, and particularly challenging when the care receiver has heavy hands-on needs, a demanding personality or mental impairment. Burnout is common. Here are 10 things that you, as a friend or relative, can do to help prevent a caregiver you know from wearing down. • Keep in touch. Accept that you may have to make most of the effort in maintaining the rela- tionship. If you live at a distance or otherwise can’t visit often, regularly call to see how the caregiver is doing. Send a card or note to brighten their day; include a humorous anecdote or cartoon clipping. • Educate yourself about the care receiver’s disease to help you understand the kinds of challenges the caregiver might be facing. • Listen non-judgmentally, demonstrate compassion and don’t give unsolicited advice. Provide words of support and encouragement instead. • Offer to accompany the person to a caregiver support group meeting if concurrent care is available or he or she can make in-home respite arrangements; otherwise, offer to be the respite provider so the caregiver can attend a meeting. • Encourage the caregiver to practice self-care by eating nutritiously, exercising and getting sufficient rest in order to maintain good health. Do whatever you can to help make it possible. For example, bring over a meal or offer to sit with the care receiver while the caregiver exercises or takes a nap to catch up on lost sleep. • Ask, rather than guess, what kind of practical help is needed most. Perhaps it’s dusting and vacuuming, doing laundry or 13 running errands. If your assistance is declined, continue to express your desire to help. Meanwhile, take it upon yourself to deliver a casserole or muffins. If you’re a neighbor, sweep both walks or bring in both sets of garbage cans. Encourage the caregiver to ask for and accept help rather than go it alone. • Surprise the caregiver with a treat, such as a magazine, a movie or music CD, fresh flowers or a plant, gourmet coffee or tea, or a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant that has takeout and delivery service. • When it comes to special occasions, keep in mind that the most valuable gift you can give a caregiver is the gift of time. Offer to sit with the care receiver for an hour while the caregiver goes to a hair appointment or a religious service, for example, or for a longer stretch so he or she can attend a social event. • If the caregiver is planning to host a party or dinner, offer to help with preparations or clean up ILATES PP L A C E or to attend to the care receiver during the event so the caregiver can concentrate on hosting duties and mingle with guests. • Offer to get information about community support services if none are in place, and encourage their use as appropriate. Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior health matters. She has personal and professional experience with elder care. If you live at a distance or otherwise can’t visit often, regularly call to see how the caregiver is doing. ILATES PP L A C E Pilates is designed to strengthen the body’s core muscles through low-impact fitness techniques. All sessions taught by Stott Pilates trained health professionals. 859-266-3810 365 Duke Rd. Lexingtotn [email protected] follow us on: ARE YOU DISABLED? HAVE YOU APPLIED FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY? ARE YOU CAUGHT UP IN RED TAPE? An experienced Social Security Claims Advocate can help you: • By assisting you in filing your initial application. • Filling out and filing your appeals. • Gather medical and other important information to submit to Social Security. • Contact your doctors to obtain a report of your medical condition. • By obtaining documents from your Social Security file and review them. • By presenting opening and closing statements at your hearing that will state how you meet the Social Security listing of being disabled. For a FREE CONSULTATION of your claim call Patsy R. Hughes, Disability Claims Advocate, Eastland Shopping Center 1020 Industry Rd. Ste 10 Lexington, KY 40505 859-253-0012 Mon 9-7, Tues-Sat 9-6 1-859-263-7780. NO FEE IS PAID UNLESS YOU WIN