PROVIDING CARE for a sick, injured, or disabled loved one in the home is a rewarding act of love and self-sacrifice. However, notwithstanding this sense of fulfillment, the demands of long-term care can also become stressful and exhausting, especially when other obligations and responsibilities related to work and family compete for the caregiver’s time and attention. If no respite or relief is available, caregiver burnout can quickly become an issue.
Just how big a toll can long-term caregiving take on one’s well-being? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov), informal or unpaid caregiving (that provided by a family member of friend) has been associated with the following:
• Elevated levels of depression and anxiety
• Higher use of psychoactive medications
• Worse self-reported physical health (53% indicate that a decline in their health compromises their ability to provide care)
• Compromised immune function
• Increased risk of early death
• Economic hardship related to lost wages and additional medical expenses.
With long-term caregivers’ physical and emotional health very much at stake, it’s vital for other family members and friends to step in and shoulder some of the burden in whatever way they can. Even modest gestures can make all the difference.
Here are some simple ways to support caregivers and let them know they aren’t in it alone:
1. Run errands
For caregivers, finding an opening in their daily schedule to return library books, pick up the dry cleaning, mail packages, shop for groceries, or pick up prescriptions can be extremely challenging. Why not set aside a little time each week to run these or other necessary errands so the caregiver doesn’t have to waste energy worrying about them?
2. Prepare meals
Meal preparation is another time-consuming chore that can overtax caregivers. Spend a few hours in your own kitchen each week cooking up some healthy meals to be delivered. Nutritious bulk foods prepared in the crockpot or slow cooker can be good options because they can be pre-portioned and frozen or refrigerated in separate containers to provide multiple meals.
But before you get out the pots and pans, be sure to inquire about the care recipient’s flavor and food preferences as well as any dietary restrictions he or she might have, such as the requirement to minimize sodium or sugar.
3. Tackle household chores
Caring for a loved one on a longterm basis and keeping his or her living space clean leaves caregivers precious little time for tackling chores throughout the rest of the house. Some assistance with routine tasks such as doing laundry, ironing, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning the bathroom, washing windows, weeding the garden, mowing the lawn, raking leaves, or shoveling snow might be greatly appreciated.
4. Offer child or pet care
In addition to caring for a sick or disabled loved one, many caregivers also have children and/or pets who rely on them. You could be a tremendous help by taking the kids out to see a movie, driving them to and from school, shuttling them to sporting events or other activities, etc. If there’s a pet that needs to be looked after, consider taking on chores such as walking the dog, pooper-scooping the yard or litter box, or taking the pet to veterinary checkups.
5. Provide a respite Perhaps one of the best ways to
Perhaps one of the best ways to help out a family caregiver is to stay with the care recipient for a few hours so he or she can run errands, go to church, enjoy an evening out with his or her spouse, or simply take a little alone time to relax and recharge.
6. Connect them with support services in the community
In addition to sharing your own time and talents to lighten a family caregiver’s load, you can help by advising him or her of support services and resources that are available at no cost in the community. A good place to start is the website of the Area Office on Aging of Northwest Ohio, Inc., specifically the section dedicated to family caregivers, which is located at https://www.areaofficeonaging.com/landing-pages/family-caregivers.
7. Listen
Most importantly, listen closely to your caregiver loved one to determine what you can do that will truly help lighten his or her load. Don’t just choose to take a certain course of action because it’s easy and convenient for you. And if you’re a family caregiver who’s feeling overwhelmed by all the additional responsibilities, don’t be ashamed to ask for loved ones’ assistance and to state explicitly what form of help you need.
