Self-care for Caregivers
| Publication year | 2023 |
| Pages | 16 |
DEPARTMENT | WELLNESS
Self-Care for Caregivers
BY KERRY MCCARTHY
"There are only four kinds of people in the world—those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers."
___Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter[1]
Several years ago, "Jim," a 60-year-old attorney, sat, tired and disheveled, across from the parole board on behalf of his client. The gray sky and drizzling weather seemed to match his level of motivation and interest as the parole hearing seemed to pass him by. He played his part, said all the right things, objected when appropriate, and advocated for his client. But it was clear the spark had left him years ago. Over the years, Jim's wife had slowly slipped away from him, suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Isolation from his family and friends increased as he tried to balance doctors' appointments, trips to the pharmacy, meal prepping, house cleaning, and constant worry about his wife and law practice. He spent many late nights trying to stay on top of motions, documentation, laundry, and the budget.
After the hearing was complete, a parole board member asked Jim, "How are you holding up?" Having worked together for nearly two decades, Jim could feel her sympathetic eyes resting on him as she waited for a reply. It had been months since someone asked how he was doing without asking about his wife in the same breath. It took him a minute to think about how he was doing after operating on autopilot and focusing outward for so long.
Jim's experience is common among family caregivers, who often find themselves overwhelmed by to-do lists and personal sacrifice. But thankfully there is help and information available for both caregivers and those who wish to support them. Whether you've been a caregiver, are a caregiver now, know a caregiver, or might become one in the future, this article is for you.
The Unsung Work of a Family Caregiver
In 2017, approximately 34 billion hours of care were provided by unpaid family caregivers, a value of over $470 billion dollars[2] provided by over 40 million individuals caring for someone 18 years old or older who is ill or disabled in the United States.[3] Family caregivers are called upon to provide various forms of care depending on the needs of the individual they are caring for and their own level of training and experience, all while navigating the hard realities of the healthcare system. If you are a caregiver, chances are you're also working part or full time, since research shows that more than half of all caregivers are juggling both their caregiving role and their professional work.[4]
The role of caregiver can be all-encompassing and overwhelming. There is no official start date or end date, no means to resign, and no easy way to take a vacation or significant leave of absence. Juggling multiple needs, caregivers often provide emotional support and create a supportive place for the ill or disabled loved one (and often the individual's friends and family members) to ask questions and express fears. They're often called upon to empathize and remain present to the emotional needs of others while tending to the ever-mounting needs of the person they're caring for.
Family caregivers might assume any number of tasks related to the medical, practical, and social needs of their loved one. Common medical-related tasks include managing medical schedules, filling out medical forms, coordinating doctors' appointments, asking questions and taking notes during appointments, providing transportation to and from appointments, ensuring prescribed treatments are followed, and helping the individual navigate the healthcare system...
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