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Find Reliable Consultants for Family Caregivers

Where to Find Reliable Consultants for Family Caregivers..

Family caregivers may deal with children, parents, grandparents … and perhaps all at one time. How do you keep your sanity? Is a private life possible? Are there reliable consultants available? Who can you trust to guide you?

There is a dependable FREE tool available ALL DAY on April 7 … see link below.

Where does the stamina and wisdom come from as you see loved ones slowly slipping away? A friend’s husband seems all together one day and can’t find his shoes the next. How can I help her cope?

Can you really be a caregiver when you live out of state? What happens if you have that responsibility? Do you even know where to begin looking for help? Listen to one who has been there and found solutions. Reliable consultants can help with

finding resources in your community
making a good decision
managing family dynamics
coping with stress

Get caregiving answers during Consulting for Good on April 7 – Consultants will man chatrooms from 9 a.m. ET until 5 p.m. ET. Join chatrooms any time during that window to connect with the consultants…. click here for more information.

Those who have walked the road before you have experiences to share to lift your load. Plan now to schedule this time for yourself and learn from others.

A word of caution: not all sites that offer help are reliable. The website, caregiving.com is one I have trusted for years. I was honored to have several articles included in their Gift Book Series.

In the photo above, my brother, Richard, is visiting with Cousin Penny while her husband, Dale, is chatting with my husband, Russell, at a concert. This past year, both Richard and Dale were called Home … yes, Heaven is Sounding Sweeter all the Time! I have to ask: Do you know where you and your loved ones will spend eternity? So thankful for John 3:16.

National Family Caregiver Month is November

Most family caregivers also hold down regular jobs.

Did you notice the title? National Family Caregiver Month? Three of four family caregivers either work now or have been working while providing care. Two thirds have made adjustments to their work life or given up their jobs.

One in five family caregivers has had to take a leave of absence.

Most provide 20 to 40 hours a week or more. Do you know someone who is a family caregiver? Are you? What needs to happen to ease the burden and lighten the load?

Can you relate to my situation with my mother?

Because I loved Mother so much, as her caregiver, I felt a need to be personally involved in all aspects of her care. It was difficult for me to turn loose of the reigns and trust others to help.

Being a family caregiver taught me two life-changing lessons.

#1, I could not do everything myself, physically or mentally.

#2, It was well worth my time to learn from others in my situation and explore options.

There are several helps available.

Free articles, free videos and books, a safe place to dialog.

Here are two of my favorite websites for helpful ideas and solutions from those who have been there. Some offer a safe place to chat with other caregivers. Both websites are self-explanatory and very easy to navigate. Whether you have just a few minutes or an hour, you will gain from checking these out.

Caregiving.com

This website: http://www.caregiving.com is by far my favorite website for caregivers. It is a very user-friendly site and offers many choices.

There are several blogs including caring for spouses, caring for children, caring for parents, caring for grandparents, caring for 2 or 3 or 4 at once, etc. There are many free articles and videos as well as a store.

If you tire of reading, they even offer a few free games to play while you rest.

Alzheimer’s Association for more than Alzheimer’s

www.alz.org offers articles drawing clear pictures of the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. A great place to start if this is an area you have concerns about for yourself or someone in your care.

Alzheimer’s Association offers help finding geriatric resources in your area; an informative e-newsletter, and overview of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia.
The facts are astounding, yet there is help and there is hope. I pray you will be encouraged today, and will find a way to encourage others along the path.

Have a great week, and let me hear from you.

Hugs,

Find out how early family involvement will help lighten your load, click here http://ezinearticles.com/?Early-Family-Involvement-Will-Lighten-the-Caregiver-Burden&id=7889350

9 Helps for Siblings With Elderly Parents

Posted on September 1, 2016 by adminSeptember 2, 2016

What makes a family caregiver?

Experience? Training? Need? Probably all of the above at one time or another. Siblings with elderly parents become caregivers often because they seem the logical solution to their needs.

Because you do love them, proceed with caution.

Simply because you are available; live closer; or may have the time and finances, you may not be the one to do the caregiving. And, if another solution is best, it does not diminish your love and concern for their well-being.

1 Take time to honestly evaluate the situation. Is this really a short-term need or could it evolve into a year-long commitment or more?

2 Is it really to their best interest to stay in their own home? If it seems to be a long-term commitment, would an assisted living facility better provide their needs? Have you talked with them about all the options?

3 Consider carefully how this will affect your family. Is your spouse supportive of this arrangement? Do you have small children to consider? (Note, it isn’t just “small” children; sometimes our teens are the most needy of a strong parent to guide them.)

4 Talk with the other siblings involved. THIS IS OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE. Be sure each child understands what will be needed from them. Do not be afraid of voicing your expectations up front. You need to know who will be there for you; you need a team.

5 Decide in the beginning of the care who will be in charge. Regardless of which one is actually staying in the home, who will be the go-to person if there is confusion? Who will be the one responsible to make the final decision?

6 What will be needed to provide proper care? Can you keep up with the overall needs? Would another sibling be better suited to provide extra funds as needed while you do the caregiving? Does maintenance need done on the home? Who will do that? Who will pay?

7 Outline the daily and weekly needs of the home. Who will be doing the shopping? Who will be in charge of the kitchen? Make sure everyone involved is aware of any special dietary needs or allergies.

8 Is there is a yard to keep or outside responsibilities? Which child is best suited for that? Who will be the outside go-to person to avoid conflict later? Consider what has been important to the parents in the past. If you cannot keep the yard as they have done, try moving favored plants to planters so they can be seen from the windows.

9 Are you aware of their end-of-life decisions? Do they have living wills, health care directives, powers of attorney, or other matters that need updated? Does the family have an attorney? These things are often difficult to discuss as the older generation kept things to themselves. I can still hear my mother saying, “That is none of your business!” It was a challenge to get beyond that hurdle so she could receive the best of care.

God tells us to honor our father and our mother.

That may mean caring for them when we might rather be doing other things with our lives. It may mean entrusting their care to others. I challenge you to spend time in prayer before making decisions. Then, review the questions as best you can, and get a good support team for the journey.

Blessings to each of you; let me hear from you.

Hugs,

For an article on items mentioned in tip #9 above (living wills, etc.) click here.