Building a strong support system for family caregivers is essential to managing the challenges of caregiving with confidence and peace of mind. From connecting with friends and family to using community resources, having a dependable network can make a world of difference. In this guide, we’ll explore practical steps for creating a support system for family caregivers, helping you feel more supported, balanced, and ready to care for your loved one.
I recently asked a group of family caregivers about their worries. One caregiver said, “I really worry about doing enough.” The rest of the group immediately chimed in with animated agreement.
As caretakers, we worry so much as we care for our aging relatives, raise children and keep our career on track. With such long and demanding days, it’s easy to feel guilt that someone or something didn’t get the attention we wanted to give them. We can begin our day with dread that we’ll disappoint our family members, friend, co-workers and caree. These worries can seem to steal our peace of mind and cause so much self-judgment. As a caregiver, you need support and peace of mind. See our blog on caregiver alerts for more information.
But how can you as a caretaker start building a support network?
According to the Positive Aging Quotient – a study recently released from LifeStation exploring the intersection of the needs of carees with the lives of family caregivers – more than 83% of current caregivers feel caregiving has had some kind of impact on their mental health and relationships, with ‘increased stress and anxiety’ and ‘having less time for themselves’ topping the list.
When examining your overall care plan and the state of your caregiving responsibilities, reflect on these questions:
- What’s going well?
- What’s a challenge?
- How can you help?
- How can others help?
- How can technology help?
Reviewing these questions can help you gain clarity on the current challenge and you can brainstorm ways to strengthen your support networks.
Reaching Out to Our Extended Social Networks For Support
Talking out what weighs heavy on our hearts can lighten our load. Lean on friends who might be going through a similar season of life, can empathize with your situation, or just serve as an ear to listen. Connect to others who understand through Facebook groups, support groups like Daughterhood Circles, or virtual support groups offered through your Area Agency on Aging. You also can connect to a therapist or a caregiving coach, like a Certified Caregiving Consultant.
People in our lives who care about us genuinely want to help wherever they can. If you know you are entering a busy season at work, or family activities are hitting a peak, lean on extended family members for added support. Don’t hesitate to delegate with members of your Care Circle to make sure all needs of your caree are being met, but all needs aren’t falling on you. It’s important for you to still be able to fulfill the responsibilities of your day to day life.
As caregivers, we also can remember that we are not the only source of help, support and love. When you can’t, know another can. We can encourage those in our lives to build a network that includes us, but is not just us. We can do the same for ourselves.
Looking to Technology for Support
Technology that can help includes medical alert devices, automated check-in services and fall detection devices available from LifeStation. With technology serving as a member of your support network, you gain peace of mind that you have systems in place to alert you in case of a medical emergency.
Our LifeStation devices are connected to emergency monitoring centers that will connect with your caree when activated. This technology provides peace of mind to you as a caregiver.
Connect with the Professionals
Don’t forget to count your caree’s doctor as part of your support network! For instance, perhaps your career recently suffered a health decline. When a decline happens, ask your caree’s doctor to order an evaluation for home health benefits through Medicare. While the home health benefit will only provide help on a short-term basis, the extra help from a home health aide, visiting nurse and physical therapist will give you more time and decrease a portion of the responsibility.
According to LifeStation’s research, almost 59% of current and future caregivers are concerned about the financial responsibility of having to care for an aging adult. The stress around money can cause sleepless nights and restless days. Peace of mind around the finances comes when you have a realistic picture of all accounts. Look to professionals, such as financial planners, to best manage the budget of your caree’s finances and your own. An app like Carefull can also help you track and manage your caree’s finances.
We can have peace of mind during caregiving – we deserve to have it. Caregivers need to be ready to receive help and take the proper steps to set ourselves up for success.
About the Author
Denise began helping family caregivers in 1990 and currently develops personal development and leadership training programs for them. She began helping her parents in 2004 after her father’s bladder cancer diagnosis.
