Family caregivers play a vital role in the lives of their loved ones, working 24/7 to provide physical and/or emotional support to a family member in their care. Through their daily efforts and sacrifices for family and loved ones, they can often exhaust their physical and emotional limits.
Family caregivers face extraordinary stress. Navigating the complex healthcare system, bridging communication on diverse healthcare team, tracking medication changes, advocating for their loved one in medical and social settings, and the other challenges they face on a daily basis often go unrecognized by people and providers around them. Community and social support for caregivers is crucial for their well-being, as well as the well-being of their loved ones.
If you are a family caregiver who needs support, we encourage you to share this article with friends and family to help them understand how to better support you.
Here are five tips on how to support family caregivers:
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Offer a Listening Ear
One of the simplest yet most effective ways to support a caregiver is to hear them out. Give them space to express their feelings, let them share the weight of their challenges, and provide opportunities for them to unburden themselves about their experiences. Feeling heard is a natural want for any human being.
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Lending a Helping Hand When Possible
Another meaningful way to assist a caregiver is by offering practical help, if you are able. Even a small chore can make a big difference when nearly every moment is scheduled. Tasks such as washing dishes, weeding their garden, tidying up a common area of the home, dusting and/or wiping counters, or picking up food for them at the store can lighten their load. Think of the many things you do around the home each day, and offer to do one practical thing that comes to mind. No matter how small, help around the home can provide much-needed relief.
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Words of Affirmation
As human beings, sometimes all we want to hear is that we are doing the best we can and we are making our loved ones proud. Words can go a long way to lift spirits and remind someone of their worth. If you don’t like voicing emotion, consider writing a quick note to slip under their door, mailing a card with a personal note, or sending a thoughtful text. Family caregivers do work that others tend to assume is their natural responsibility, or even their choice. Even when the labor of caregiving is taken on willingly, this common assumption can ignore the weight of the sacrifices family caregivers make. Reassuring them that you see and appreciate what they do can mean more than many people think.
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Promote Self-Care
Self-care is paramount to the overall physical and mental health of family caregivers. Encourage them to rest when they can, engage in physical activity of their choice, spend time with friends, maintain their personal hygiene, or work on their hobbies. If they respond that they don’t have the time, this can be an opportunity to offer respite care. Even 15 minutes of sitting with their loved one and reading a book can allow a family caregiver to take a walk around the block, refresh their mental state, and help restore their energy and mental clarity. For a family caregiver, taking a few moments out of their day to focus on themselves not only helps the caregiver, it enhances their ability to care for their loved ones as well.
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Enter our 22nd Annual Caregiving Story Contest
The act of sharing their story can sometimes offer catharsis, give family caregivers an opportunity to process what they’re going through. Potentially winning a cash prize in the process is an added benefit that can help families caring for loved ones with chronic or complex medical needs. Encourage family caregivers to enter Shield HealthCare’s story contest for a chance to win one of eight cash prizes, including a $1,000 prize! Caregiver’s experiences are powerful, and their sacrificies and successes are not only worthy of acknowledgement; they can provide a lifeline to others in similar situations. This year’s contest launches in early November 2024. Visit shieldhealthcare.com/caring on or after November 1, 2024, for more information.
