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Caregiving
Principal authors: Peter S. Houts, PhD and Carole BeanBooklet editor: Peter S. Houts, PhD
This handout is based on a chapter fromEldercare at Home, a publication of The
AGS Foundation for Health in Aging (FHA). Visit www.healthinaging.org for
more information on the workbook and presentation kits, as well as access the full
text of Eldercare at Home (without illustrations).
This handout can be reproduced and distributed provided it is not altered or
sold for profit.
2004 The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging
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Understanding the problemDefines the problem, who is likely to have it, and what kinds of things can be dto deal with it.
When to call for professional helpExplains when to call for help immediately or during office hours as well as listsinformation you should have before you call.
What you can do to helpWhat you can do to help with the problem and to prevent it.
Carrying out your planHow to deal with problems in carrying out your plan, how to check on progress, awhat to do if your plan isnt working.
Booklet summarySummarizes what you can do to manage this problem. You can use this sectionget a quick overview of what you can do.
Each action you can take is in bold and has a picture illustrating the action.
An important resource for this booklet was the Caring Families manual developedby the Family Caregiver Project at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Theauthors of the Caring Families manual were D.D. Fernald, PhD; James R. Cook,PhD; and Catherine A. Gutman, DrPH, RN. Its development was supported bygrant no. 90PD0153 from the Office of Human Development Services of theDepartment of Health and Human Services.
U.S.
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Understanding the Problem
Juan is learning abouthow he can give goodcare to his mother.
Caring for an older person at home requires a team of people with different skills
and perspectives. Doctors, nurses, social workers, and clergy all make important,specialized contributions, but family members or friends give the day-to-day care.
Your close personal relationship with the person you are caring for helps you to
understand and interpret his or her feelings, wishes, and needs. You are also the
first to become aware of many physical and emotional problems, the first to deal
with those problems, and often are the person who carries out plans that you and
other team members develop. As a team member, your job is to work cooperatively
with other members of the teamboth family and professionalin solving
caregiving problems. To do this you need to use the four problem-solving steps
discussed in the first chapter of this book.
As much as possible, the older person and the whole family need to be
involved in problem-solving. Involve other family members in planning and
making decisions, as well as carrying out plans. Give them information and invite
them to express their concerns. This can reduce your burden and any criticism by
other family members who may not be as directly involved.
Remember that the older person is also a member of the team. His or her
participation is essential for plans to succeed. It is also his or her right to beinvolved.
Emphasize the positive parts of caregiving. Some caregivers see their work as
helping someone about whom they care deeply. Others see caregiving spiritually,
as part of Gods plan for them. Many feel that caregiving has enriched their lives.
Others see it as a challenge and want to do the best job they can. And some see
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caregiving as a way of showing appreciation for the love and care they have
received themselves.
Caregiving can have important benefits. Caring for an older person at home can
give you a sense of satisfaction and confidence. You will discover inner strengthsthat you didnt realize you had. Caregiving can draw families together and can help
people feel closer to the person who needs care.
You can also use your caregiving to open doors to new friends and relationships.
This can happen from talking to other people who have faced the same problems,
from meeting people in a support group, from meeting health professionals who
showed understanding and concern, and from family members who may have
grown distant but who now are drawn together because of this difficult situation.
Your goals for caregiving are:
Be an effective team member working with doctors, other healthprofessionals, family, and friends in solving caregiving problems
Involve the person you are caring for as much as possible in yourcaregiving plans
Take care of your own needs so that you have the emotional and physicalstrength to be an effective caregiver
Call for professional help when needed
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When to Get Professional Helpfor yourself
Elizabeth is calling thedoctors office whenthe doctor has officehours.
Caregiving is challenging and rewarding, but it is also very hard work. As a result,
you may experience stress and need professional help yourself. Ask for help from
a doctor or other health professionals if any of the following conditions exist.
Mary is feeling sad anddepressed and can onlythink of bad things that couldhappen. So she calls thedoctor during office hours.
You are experiencing
moderate to severe depression
You should get professional help
if you are experiencing mood
swings going from periods ofdepression to periods of agitation
and high energy; if you feel sad
most of the day, have lost interest
in most of your daily activities,
have difficulty paying attention
to what you are doing, and have
trouble making choices; if you
are thinking seriously of harming
or killing yourself; or if you have
been severely depressed beforethis illness and recognize early
symptoms of depression.
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When to Get Professional Help for yourselfGetting help for depression is just like getting help for physical problems. It is
normal to be upset at times when caring for someone in your home for a long
period of time. Professionals such as social workers, counselors, clergy,
psychologists and psychiatrists are skilled and experienced in helping depressedpeople. Your family doctor can also be helpful in assessing how severe your
depression is and in recommending a professional to help you. Your family doctor
may also help by prescribing medicine to help for short periods of time
Angela is very upset because shecannot do all the things she wants todo for her grandmother. So she calls
the doctor during office hours.
You are feeling overwhelmed
and not sure you can manage
at home
Ask for help from your Area
Office on Aging, socialworkers, or counselors who are
familiar with services that are
available in the community.
This includes respite care
where someone comes to the
home to stay with the older
person so that you can leave, do
errands, visit friends, go to
meetings, and get recreation orrest.
Thelma is wondering what kind ofnursing home would be best for hergrandmother. So she calls thedoctors office during office hours.
You need information and
guidance about moving the
older person to a nursing
home or other care setting
Social workers are often
knowledgeable about nursinghomes in your area. They often
know about costs, the kinds of
services each provides, and how
patients and families have felt
about the care given there.
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What You Can Do To be aSupportive Caregiver
George wants to help hisdad.
Involve the older person indeveloping and carrying out
care plans.
Angela is asking her mother to help solvea caregiving problem.
This is one of your most
important jobs. It can also be
the most challenging. Mental as
well as physical problems may
make it difficult for older
people to participate in
planning their care. However,their participation is essential.
When they participate, they feel
respected and are more likely to
feel committed to the plan and
to cooperate in carrying it out.
To help the older person participate, you have to pay special attention to what you
say and how you say it. For example, speaking where the older person can see your
face, speaking clearly, speaking slowly, sitting close so you can have direct eye
contact, leaning forward or nodding your head to show interest, avoiding
interrupting or judging, and watching for signs of fatigue or tension.
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What You Can Do To be a Supportive Caregiver
Be realistic and flexible about
what you hope to
communicate and agree on.If the older person has
difficulty understanding you,
remembering what you said,
and making decisions, then you
will have to simplify your
explanations and the decisions
you ask him or her to make.
Andys dad is shaking his headbecause he doesnt understand. So
Andy is making his explanationsimpler.
If the older person disagrees or wont cooperate with the plan
Suggest a trial run or a time limit
this puts off a final decision until he or
she has had a chance to try the plan.
Amanda suggests that her mothertry a plan for just a week. Then shecan decide if she likes it.
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If the older person disagrees or wont cooperate with the plan
Explain your needs openly.
Sometimes you will need to ask
the older person to do things to
make your life easier or your
caregiving responsibilities more
manageable. Remember that
not all decisions will make
everyone happy. On some
issues you will have to
compromise and, on others,
youll have to ask the olderperson to compromise. Nancy is telling her mother about her
own problems. Her mother has tounderstand Nancys needs as wellas her own.
Choose your battles carefully.
Ask yourself, What is really
important here? You can save
energy by skipping the minor
conflicts and using your energy
and influence on issues that
really count.
Vickie and her father disagree aboutsomething that Vickie thinks is veryimportant. So she is standing her ground.But she lets her father have his way onthings that are not important to her.
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If the older person disagrees or wont cooperate with the plan
Let the person you are caring
for make decisions as much as
possible. If the older person
understands the consequences
of a decision, you should accept
his or her right to make the
decision. If you are concerned
about safety or health, suggest
only options that are safe.
Nancy is asking her aunt to choose whichway to go. Nancy helps her aunt to makeas many decisions as possible.
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Work with health professionals
Below are some practical suggestions to keep in mind when you need information
and help from the doctor or other health professionals.
Be clear about what
information you want and get
to the point as soon as possible.
Make lists of questions and
concerns and have the lists in
front of you when talking to
health professionals.
Have all the information
health professionals may need
when you call. Try to think
ahead to what information
medical staff may need, and try
to have it ready when you talk
to them about a problem. This
will help the staff give you theinformation and guidance you
need quickly. When Melonie calls the doctor, she has alist of information so she can answer thedoctors questions.
Thelma has a list of questions when shesees the doctor.
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Work with health professionals
Be firm and straightforward
about getting the information
and help you need.Health professionals are here to
help you be a good caregiver.
Make your requests with
confidence so that you will get
the information you need and
dont be afraid to admit when
you do not understand. Remain
calm. Being angry is not
usually helpful. Being pleasant,
firm, persistent, and showing
appreciation are usually the
best strategies.
Tanya asks the doctor for information in anice way. She keeps asking nicely untilshe gets the information she needs.
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Take care of your own needs and feelings
You need to be at your best to do the best job of helping. Therefore, you should
pay attention to your own needs as well as those of the person you are caring for.
Set limits on what you can reasonably expect yourself to do. Take time off to carefor yourself and your needs and ask for help before stress builds up.
Schedule positive experiences
for yourself. There are three
types of positive experiences
that you need for good mental
health: enjoyable activities withother people (examples: talking
with a friend, playing with
grandchildren, attending a
meeting), activities that give
you a sense of accomplishment
(examples: cooking a special
meal, exercising, helping
others, finishing a project), and
activities that just make you
feel good (examples: watchinga funny movie, playing with a
pet, walking out of doors,
listening to favorite music).
You should plan for each of
these types of activities
regularly. If you dont,
caregiving may fill up all your
time which will then increase
your stress and reduce yourability to give good care.
Kit is marking on the calendar when shewill do things that she likes to do. This willhelp her relax and to do a better job caring
for her grandfather.
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Take care of your own needs and feelings
Pay attention to your own
positive experiences. Make an
effort to notice and talk aboutpleasant experiences as they
happen during the day. It is
often helpful to set aside a
special time each evening when
you can think about - or share
with others - the good things
that happened that day. Another
idea that many people have
found useful is to make lists of
pleasant experiences. Keepthese lists and read them over
from time to time to remind
yourself about the good things
as they happen. After you have
done this for awhile, you will
find yourself noticing good
things as they happen and
youll start the day looking
forward to pleasant things thatwill happen.
Angela takes time at the end of every dayto make a list of the good things thathappened to her that day.
Be sure you get enough rest.
If you are physically exhausted,
your ability to cope with
problems will decrease. Youwill be a better problem-solver
when you are rested.
Thelma makes sure that she gets plenty ofsleep. This helps her to give better care toher aunt.
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Take care of your own needs and feelings
Get help from others.Dont try to do everything
yourself. If you do, caregiving
can wear you out, increase your
stress, and interfere with your
ability to give good care at
home. Learn about services that
are available in your
community. Support groups
sponsored by hospitals and
disease-related volunteergroups (such as Cancer or
Alzheimers) can sometimes be
very helpful. In addition, you
should ask for help from family
members and friends. Try to
share tasks. For example, bills
can be forwarded to a family
member who live far away to
relieve the caregiver of thismonthly chore.
Charlotte asks her family and friends tohelp her care for her mother. She doesnttry to do everything herself. This helps herenjoy caregiving and to give her motherthe best care.
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Take care of your own needs and feelings
Sometimes family caregivers
withdraw from family and
friends, especially as theirwork gets more difficult.
They do this because they do
not want others to see their
problems or because they are so
busy that they dont make time
to be with others.
Unfortunately, some very
important things are lost when
you see fewer and fewer
people. You lose thestimulation of thinking about
other peoples lives and you
lose the suggestions and help
which others can give. You
might also forget that other
people love and care about you
and are willing to help when
asked.
Pat is telling people that she does notwant help. This is wrong. It makes herwork harder and she thinks people dontcare about her, which is not true.
Reach out to others and ask for their help
Make a list of people who can
give companionship and
support to you and the person
you are caring for.
Dont worry about how far
away these people live, howbusy they are, how long since
youve talked to them, or even
how well you know them.
Make as long a list as you can
to give you the most choices
and practical help.
Judy makes a list of people who couldhelp care for her mother. She also writeswhat they can do and how she can helpthem have a good time when helping.
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Reach out to others and ask for their help
Have a list of how people
could help. Make your listspecific - so the people you
asked understand exactly what
is needed. Then they will be
able to budget their own time
and be prepared to give the help
you need.
Go down your list and think
how you could make a visit
(or a phone call) pleasant and
enjoyable for each person.
Use these ideas when you invite
them and when they visit or
call. When you do this, visitors
will want to come again and
you will feel good about asking
them to return.
Judy then calls the people on her list andasks them for help. She explains whatthey will do and how long it will take. Shealso makes sure that they will feel goodabout helping.
Develop strategies for dealing with strong feelings
It is natural to have strong feelings when giving care over a long period of time.
Following is a list of strong feelings that caregivers often have and strategies for
dealing with them if they become severe.
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Feeling overwhelmed
Sometimes caregiving problems build up to the point where you feel overwhelmed.
If this happens:
Try not to make important
decision while you are upset.
Sometimes you have to make a
decision immediately, but
usually you dont have to. Ask
how long before a decision
really has to be made.
Roger feels that he cannot make adecision right away. So he sets a laterdate to make the decision. This gives himtime to think about what he wants to doand he doesnt feel rushed into makingdecisions.
Take time to sort things out.
It is important to take some
time to let your thinking
become clear again. Different
people need different amounts
of time for this to happen. Give
yourself enough time to make
plans and decisions with a clear
mind and a more peaceful
spirit.
Claire feels upset at first. But she lets timepass until she doesnt feel upset. Then shecan think clearly about her problem anddevelop a plan to solve the problem.
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Talk over important
problems with people who are
feeling more objective.
If you are feeling very upset or
discouraged, then ask a friend,neighbor, or family member to
help. They can bring a calmer
perspective to the situation as
well as new ideas and help in
dealing with the problems you
are facing.
Sadie is talking to her friend Melonie about
her problems. Melonie has given Sadiegood advice in the past and she can seeSadies problems in new ways that helpsSadie think of new solutions.
Anger
There are plenty of reasons for you to become angry when you are giving care for a
long period of time. For example, the older person may, at times, be demandingand irritating. Friends, family members, or professionals may not be as helpful or
understanding as you would like. Some people feel angry because their lives have
been turned upside down by taking on caregiving responsibilities.
These feelings are normal! It is all right to feel this way at times. It is what you do
with your anger that is important. The best way to deal with angry feelings is to
recognize them, accept them, and find some way to express them appropriately.
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Here are some ways that other caregivers have dealt withtheir anger:
Try to see the situation from
the other persons point ofview. Recognize that other
people, including the person
you are caring for, are also
under stress. People react in
different ways to stressful
events in their lives.
Carol feels angry about what Cindy said toher. But then she pretends she is Cindy.This helps her understand why Cindy saidwhat she did. Carol then feels better aboutwhat happened.
At first Mary Lou felt a little bit angry. Butthe more she thought about it she gotmore and more angry until she wasthrowing dishes. This is wrong. Sheshould have expressed her anger earlierwhen she wasnt so very mad. Then shewould not do silly things like throwingdishes.
Express your anger in
appropriate ways before it is
out of control. If you wait,
your anger may lead to actions
and words that you may later
regret. Anger that is out of
control can cloud your
judgment.
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Here are some ways that other caregivers have dealt withtheir anger:
Find safe ways to expressyour anger. This can include
such things as beating on a
pillow, shouting by yourself, or
doing some hard exercise.
Sometimes it helps to ventilate
anger with someone who is
safe - who wont be offended
or strike back. Get away from
the situation for a while and try
to cool off before you go backand deal with what made you
angry.
Angela feels angry, but she gets rid of her
anger in safe ways such as hitting a pillow,imagining herself yelling, doing exercises,and talking to a friend who isunderstanding.
Tyrone is blaming himself for being angryabout his caregiving problems. But he isnot to blame. Caregiving is hard and it isnatural to feel angry sometimes.
Try not to feel guilty about
your anger. Anger is a natural
response to a difficult situation.
Most other people would
probably feel the same way if
they were in your shoes.
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Here are some ways that other caregivers have dealt withtheir anger:
Sally is talking to her friend Joyce aboutwhy she feels angry. Telling someoneelse about her feeling helps Sally tounderstand why she feels the way shedoes.
Talk to someone about why
you feel angry. Explaining toanother person why you feel
angry helps you to understand
the reasons for your anger and
why you reacted as you did.
Candice is talking to a counselor about herfeelings. The counselor helps Candiceunderstand why she feels the way shedoes and helps her think of ways to solveher problems
Talk to a counselor.
It often helps to talk to
someone removed from the
situation who can provide
support and an objective
viewpoint about your problems.
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Loss and sadness
You may feel sad because the person you know and love has changed. Memories
of how the older person used to be may make you sad. You may feel sad because
of losing normal things you did before this illness and because of plans that maynot be fulfilled. You may also feel burdened by the responsibilities you have to
bear alone. Here are some things you can do when you have these feelings:
Wilma is telling a friend about her feelingsof sadness. Her friend felt the same way
when she was a caregiver and this makesWilma feel better about her own feelings.
Talk about your feelings of
loss with other people who
have had similar experiences.
People who have been
caregivers of older persons will
usually understand how you
feel. Support groups are one
way to find people who have
had similar experiences and
who can understand and
appreciate your feelings.
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Shame
You may be embarrassed because the older person looks unusual or acts odd in
front of others. You may not know how to explain this to other people and you
may feel badly because you feel ashamed of your own family member.
These feelings are normal and common. Its all right to have these feelings. There
are several things you can do to deal with them.
Carol feels embarrassed about how herfather looks and acts. She talks to herfriend Shiela who says she felt the same
way about her Uncle. This helps Carolunderstand her own feelings.
Talk about your feelings with
someone else who has the
same problems. That person
will understand how you feel,
and telling them about your
problems will help put theminto perspective.
Cindy used to be embarrassed being with hergrandfather in public. But then she realizedthat she has a right to go where she wantswith her grandfather and, if that upsets other
people, that is their problem, not hers.
Remember that you have a
right to go into public with
your family. If other people
are uncomfortable with how
your family member looks, they
can go elsewhere.
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Here are some ways that other caregivers have dealt withshame:
When someone asks Millie about why herfather acts the way he does, Millieexplains that he likes to be different fromother people. This explanation helps other
people to be comfortable around herfather.
Develop a simple explanationfor why the older person acts
in a certain way. If someone
asks, then you can give an
explanation you are
comfortable with.
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Dont assume that everyone
will be offended. Other caring
people will notice good things
about the older person and will
be understanding and
supportive.
Samantha thought other people would beupset by how her Uncle Phil behaved. Butthen she realized that most people werevery understanding and wanted to behelpful to him.
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Take small, gradual steps to become
more comfortable with the older
person in public. Start with people
you know well and who are
understanding. Invite them to visitand to be with you and the older
person. As you become comfortable
with friends, gradually go out in
public.
First Marjorie took her Aunt Millie to see her friend Jane. Then shetook her Aunt to meet several friends together. Later she and AuntMillie went together to meet strangers. By meeting more peopleslowly, both she and her Aunt felt more and more comfortable beingwith new people.
Guilt
Many people caring for an older person at home feel guilty at some time during
their caregiving. They may feel guilty because of not doing a better job of giving
care. They may feel guilty because they feel angry or upset with the person they
are caring for. Some people feel guilty almost out of habit. They have learned from
childhood to feel guilty when something goes wrong.
Although feeling guilty is understandable, it can interfere with doing the best
possible job of caregiving. Guilt makes you think only about what you did wrong,
while most problems have many causes and what you did is only part of the reasonfor the problem. To solve a problem, you have to look objectively at all of the
causes and then develop plans to deal with the whole problem.
Dwelling on guilt feelings will rob you of precious energy that you need to cope
with new problems.
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Here are some things you can do to deal with feelings of guilt:
Talk to other people who
have gone through similar
experiences about what
happened and how they felt.
It is often easier to see a
situation objectively when it
happens to someone else, and
this can give you perspective on
your own problems.
Theona expects herself to be perfect.This is wrong. No one can be perfectand we have to accept ourselves as good
people who sometimes make mistakes.
Charlie felt guilty about what he said to hisgrandmother until he talked with Angiewho said she also felt guilty about whatshe said to her aunt.. This helped Charliesee that his feelings were natural.
Dont expect yourself to beperfect. Expecting perfection
in yourself can cause guilt to be
a regular part of your life. It is
helpful to remember that you
are human, and therefore you
will make mistakes from time
to time.
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Here are another thing you can do to deal with feelings ofguilt:
Dont dwell on mistakes.
Accept mistakes and get
beyond them as best you can.
Forgive yourself for your
shortcomings.
Sonia thinks about her mistakes all the time.This is wrong. This stops her from solving her
problems.
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Carrying out and adjusting your plan
Mary and her mother areworking together to carryout their plans
Problems you might have carrying out your plan
Problem:
If I dont do it, it wont get done.
Response: It may not - but is it essential? Sort out things that really need to be
done. Its OK to let some things, like housework, slide a bit when you take on new
responsibilities.
Problem:
I hate to ask other people to help me.
Response: Start by asking for help with little things and notice how easy it is and
how much people enjoy helping. If asking makes you very uncomfortable, then get
someone else to ask for you.
Problem:
The person Im caring for doesnt want other people to help us.
Response: Suggest trying outside help for just a short time and thenyou can both talk over how it worked. Also, explain that you need
help.
Problem:
Im swamped with problems, so I dont have time to take care of my needs.
Response: This is the most common reason why caregivers become exhausted.
They become preoccupied with their caregiving problems and dont pay attention
to themselves. You will be a better caregiver in the long run if you get help with
caregiving so that you can do things that you enjoy and that you find relaxing.
Think of other problems you might have carrying out your plan
What other problems could get in the way of doing the things suggested in this
handout? For example, will the person cooperate? Will other people help? How
will you explain your needs to other people? Do you have the time and energy to
carry out the plan?
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Checking on progress
Veronica uses the ideas she learned inthis booklet on caregiving right away. Sheshould not wait until her problems aresevere. It is easier and better to use the
ideas before problems get out of hand.
Start using the ideas in this
handout now. Dont wait until
you feel overwhelmed. It is
easier to develop good
caregiving habits and attitudes
early before the problems get
out of hand.
Every week or so take time to think about how you are doing as a caregiver.
Re-read this booklet periodically to see if there are ideas here that can be of help.
What to do if your plan isnt working
Be realistic about what you expect of yourself. Dont expect to be perfect.
Everyone makes mistakes. Most plans need to be adjusted and changed as thecondition of the person you are caring for changes and your situation changes.
If you cannot do the things that are essential for the person you are caring for,
then consider getting help or moving him or her to an assisted living facility or
nursing home.
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When to get professional
help for yourself
Explain your needs
openly.
Choose your battles
carefully.
Involve the older person
in developing and
carrying out care plans.
Suggest a trial run or
a time limit when
trying new ideas.
You are feeling
moderate to severe
depression
You are feeling overwhelmed
Let the person you are
caring for make decisions
as much as possible.
Be realistic and flexible about
what you hope to communicate
and agree on.
What you can do to be
a supportive caregiver
You need information and
guidance about nursing
homes or other care settings
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Be clear about what
information you want.
Have all the
information health
professionals may need
when you call.
Work with health rofessionals
Be firm and
straightforward about
getting the
information and help
you need.
Take care of your own needs and feelings
Schedule positive
experiences for yourself.Pay attention to your own
positive experiences.Be sure you get
enough rest.
Get help from others. Make a list of people who can give companionship and
support. Think about how you could make a visit (or a
phone call) pleasant and enjoyable for each person. Then
call or talk to each of them.
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Anger
Develop strategies for dealing with strong feelings
Talk over important
problems with people
who are feeling more
level-headed.
Try not to make
important decision while
you are upset.
Feeling overwhelmed
Take time to sort things
out.
Find safe ways
to express your
anger.
Express your anger in
appropriate ways before it
is out of control.
Try to see the situation
from the other persons
point of view.
Dont withdraw from family and
friends, especially as your work
increases.
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Talk to someone about
why you feel angry.
Try not to feel guilty
about your anger.
Talk to a counselor.
Feelings of loss and sadness
Talk about your feelings
of loss with other people
who have had similarexperiences.
Feelings of shame
Talk about your feelings
with someone else who
has the same problems.
Remember that you have
a right to go into public
with your family.
Develop a simple
explanation for why
the older person acts
in a certain way.
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Talk to other people who
have had the same
problems about what
happened and how they
Dont expect yourself to
be perfect.
Dont dwell on
mistakes.
Dont assume that
everyone will be
offended.
Take small, steps to become more comfortable with
the older person in public.
Feelings of guilt
Carrying out andadjusting your plan
Start using the ideas in this
booklet now. Dont wait until you
feel overwhelmed.
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The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging (FHA)Established in 1999 by the American Geriatrics Society, the AGS Foundation for Health in
Aging (FHA) builds a bridge between the research and practice of geriatrics health care
professionals and the public. FHA advocates on behalf of older adults and their special needs:
wellness and preventive care, self-responsibility and independence and connections to the family
and community through self-responsibility and independence and connections to the family and
community through public education, clinical research and public policy.
Eldercare At Home, Second EditionEldercare At Home is part of a comprehensive effort by the AGS Foundation for Health in Aging
to provide support and guidance to those of you caring for older people at home. The FHA has
created a series of Powerpoint slide presentations that cover each of the 27 chapters found in
Eldercare At Home. Accompanying each slide presentation is a fully illustrated handout that can
be used as handouts, or as stand-alone resources for caregivers who are dealing with only one or
two issues.
The major goal of this initiative is to makeEldercare at Home materials available to all
caregivers. To this end, the plain text version (without illustrations) ofEldercare at Home is
available free of charge online at www.healthinaging.org.
Eldercare at Home Workbook is also available for purchase through the FHA. Each of the
twenty-seven chapters in the Eldercare at Home books cover the most common problems that
family caregivers face. TheEldercare at Home Workbook can be used just as you would a
cookbook. Read a chapter before you start dealing with a specific problem just as you would
read a recipe before beginning to cook. Reading the chapter allows you to understand the
problem and take action before it becomes severe. Eldercare at Home can even help you to
prevent some problems from happening. It offers you advice on developing care plans, which
will give you a sense of purpose and hope in coping with the challenges of providing care.
For more information on Eldercare at Home, or the AGS Foundation for Health in Aging, visit
www.healthinaging.org, or call 1-800-563-4916.
The AGS Foundation for Health in AgingThe Empire State Building
350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 801
New York, NY 10118
Phone: 1-800-563-4916
Fax: 212-832-8646www.healthinaging.org
http://www.healthinaging.org/http://www.healthinaging.org/