What if you are caring 24/7?

Your own life has pretty much come to a standstill and is now filled with twists and turns and so many questions around caregiving. Are you: – 

  • totally exhausted and way too overwhelmed?
  • having sleepless nights?
  • confused and lost with all the to-do’s?
  • tired of getting advice from everyone?
  • missing time for yourself and fun with your friends?
  • mourning the loss of your caree’s abilities and functions and often long for the days before caregiving?

You are in Stage 3 of your Caregiving Years: the Entrenched Caregiver:
This stage may be the most difficult for both of you. Your involvement with your caree is almost daily if not constant. Your caree may live with you or your involvement means that your day is structured to be available to your caree. Your mood is sometimes upbeat as you’re proud you’ve been able to provide such wonderful care and make decisions that support your caree’s best wishes. Sometimes you feel melancholy–why you?

Your Keyword: Receive
— Receive help–from anyone who offers.
— Receive breaks from caregiving.
— Receive support.

Your Challenge
To find the support and strength to continue.

Your Purpose
To develop a routine, create a familiar schedule for both yourself and your caree.
A routine will help you deal with the overwhelming stresses and responsibilities
that wear you out. It will provide comfort for you and your caree.

HERE IS HOW CAREGIVERS WANT US TO HELP
When Denise M. Brown, Founder of  http://caregiving.com, surveyed Family Caregivers on how we can help as Caregiving Consultants, these were some of the answers:

— An empathetic and caring attitude helps build up confidence between patient, caregiver and professional.
— Please forgive me when I’m crabby and want to take it out on you–I’m really trying to do better.
–Caregiving needs help from all directions. It is a job one has to learn as you go along. Just like learning to skate or riding a bike you are mostly on your own.

And last but not least:
— The first thing you say to a caregiver who is struggling should not be–“put her in a nursing home”.

What is bugging you on your caregiving journey?

With Love & Care,

Saskia Jennings
Certified Caregiving Consultant & Educator
Nanaimo, B.C.
http://www.creatingbeingwell.com
Current Phone #: 647.528.2037