Welcome to my new series, “Tips for Caregivers, Near and Far.”
December 16, 2017: Tip #3 – It’s OK to Ask For Help
Caregivers are a hardy bunch and often feel that they need to take care of it all. In their attempt to do this, they often forget to take care of themselves and the results can be dangerous for the caregiver and even for the loved one they are caring for. I’m here in snowy New York on a visit with my mom. She currently needs some care due to health and mobility issues. But, my mom is also an expert at caregiving, as she was the primary caregiver for her own mom who had Alzheimer’s. So, I asked her for her expert opinion about this week’s tip for caregivers. Her tip is tip #3: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Ask family members, friends, and paid caregivers. Help could mean help from family members in making decisions regarding care for your mutual loved one. Help could mean having a friend, family member, or paid caregiver take over caregiver duties for an hour, a few hours, a day, or longer, so that you can take care of your own business and your own mind-body wellness. Remember my tip #2, to find peace within yourself? That’s hard to do, if you don’t have some time for yourself. Help could also mean hiring a paid caregiver on a daily basis to help with “ADL’s,” Activities of Daily Living, such as bathing, dressing, food preparation, and feeding. It sometimes takes a village to provide caregiving for someone who needs it. Don’t try to be a super hero. The best care comes from caregivers who are not worn out, burnt out, or exhausted, and those who have some help.
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Stay tuned for more tips and my upcoming blog with stories of my own personal experiences related to some of these tips!! Check all of my blogs, read about my internet consulting service, and check out my internet radio program with expert guests, right here on my website.