Genee G. is from Washington, and was one of forty finalists chosen out of the over 1,000 entries to our “What Advice Would You Give to a Fellow Caregiver?” Contest. You can find our grand prize and runner up winners here.
What advice would you give a fellow caregiver?
As a caregiver my advice to other caregivers is to not take things personal. Our clients are people with various issues – ranging from old age to physical, mental, and emotional handicaps. Many have difficulty in accepting help, especially in the beginning.
Look at things from their perspective. They no longer have the independence they used to have. Some stranger is now coming into their home and, like it or not, they need that stranger’s help!
This sets the stage for trust issues, as well as the fact that this stranger has to be taught how to cook to their liking, where everything is in the home, and they’re also giving hands-on assistance with bathing, getting up/down, shopping, going to doctor appointments, etc. And so many other dynamics come into play!
They need us to be understanding, caring, empathetic, patient, and to NOT take things personal when they have a bad day – which will be often – especially until they get to know and trust us, and us them.
If you are caring for your own family member, it is so important to be able to detach emotionally. This can be very hard to do at times. You will need a good support system (many caregiver support groups are available).
As caregivers, we have a tendency to put ourselves on the back burner, and then get resentful when there is no ” ME” time. Be realistic: you can’t do it all – you will also need to have time for yourself. I can’t stress this enough. If you don’t, you will burn out quickly, and then you are not going to be the kind of caregiver that your family member or client needs you to be, and that you desire to be.
Have one day a week for “YOU” time – time to read a good book, do your toenails (mine are way overdue!), walk on the beach, visit with your best friend or family member – whatever it is that makes YOU happy.
Click here to head to the contest home page and read more advice.
Finalists were selected by the Marketing Team at Shield HealthCare. Those finalists were submitted to a panel of independent judges who picked three grand prize winners and five runners up. The judges included: Sandra Mitchell, Award-winning KCAL 9 news anchor and breast cancer survivor, and the Landers family: actor and comedian David Landers (“Laverne & Shirley”) who is living with MS, his wife Kathy and his daughter Natalie (“The Middle”). Click here to learn more.
