Care giving Appreciation
Here are seven great ways to express your thanks and gratitude to the caregivers in your family:
1. Tell them in words. We might think that of course family caregivers know we appreciate what they do. Yet these caring individuals often report feeling isolated and undervalued. They can't read our minds! Take time for a conversation or to write a letter expressing your appreciation of the important role they play. This can sometimes be emotionally challenging if we feel a sense of guilt that we aren't doing as much for our loved one as we would like, or think we should. Do it anyway! But don't stop with words.
2. Listen. Caregiving can create a sense of isolation. Ask how the caregiver is doing. Check in regularly. Create a safe space for the caregiver to express their thoughts about their role and their concern for the person receiving care. Caregiving is a mixed bag, with joys and frustrations. Maybe you are a person with whom the caregiver feels safe expressing some of those mixed emotions.
3. Ask how you can help. Most caregivers have a wish list when it comes to balancing their caregiving duties with their work, family and personal responsibilities—but it can be hard for them to ask for help. The need for respite is usually high on the list. If you live nearby, offer to take a regular shift with your loved one. If you live at a distance, visit more often. If your loved one can travel, arrange for visits at your place.
4. Enlist everyone. A holiday visit when the whole family is together can be a good time to have a family meeting. Encourage the caregiver to share information about your loved one's needs. Brainstorm solutions to spread out the caregiving load. If possible, have the person who is receiving care at the meeting as well. Remember that the primary caregiver has the most information—don't be one of those long-distance caregivers who swoops in and criticizes!
5. Bring in a professional. If the family conversation isn't going well, or family members are stumped about what to do, it's worth it to bring in outside help. A counselor can facilitate the discussion. Geriatric care managers also can help family discussions be more productive, and they can perform an assessment of an elder's needs and make recommendations.
6. Arrange for support services. If family members have the time and ability to help out with care tasks, home maintenance, transportation, yard work and whatever else needs doing, set up a schedule. If family can't do it all, help the caregiver locate professional services such as housekeeping, yard care and meal delivery. Arrange for home modifications, such as an accessible bathroom and wheelchair ramp if needed.
7. Hire in-home care. Arranging for home care services can be the very best way to lighten the caregiver's workload and stress level, while providing peace of mind for everyone in the family. Families who share the cost of these services often find that in-home care is an affordable solution—even an economic advantage if it allows caregivers to continue in their own careers. In-home caregivers provide personal care and grooming, companionship, housekeeping and laundry, nutrition support, medication reminders and many other practical tasks. The last thing your caregiver relative needs is to take on an HR role, so look for a reputable agency that handles hiring, background checks, training, taxes, liability insurance and other employer duties.
Caregiving, as we know, is not just for the elderly. There are some of us that for anyone else would be considered to be in the prime of their lives, but need help to get around, in and out of bed, etc. So they deserve to be shown how much their care is appreciated.
