All About Care Giver

Care giving really requires a person to have a lot of patience since not all elders are easy to handle. There are some instances when a patient will keep on insisting his/her demands even though it is impossible for his/her condition. Patience is needed to withstand all the emotional, psychological, and physical “torture”. A care giver should be accountable or liable for their actions if there will be any conflicts concerning the status of the patient. Care givers should also be monitored and be apprehended (like the case of doctors) if there will be an anomaly while the patient is in his/her supervision.

Photo taken from http://www.multi.com.au

Posted on December 10th, 2011 by editor
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A new study about the correlation of depression and illness has surfaced: elders who feel they’re alone in this world have higher chances of becoming sick. Now this is troubling as it poses a “double jeopardy” scenario.

This research actually applies to all ages but the elderly have higher chances of becoming even if it’s just mild depression. The researchers took notice of what they called the “T-cells” – these are the cells that slowly kill the body’s protection from bacteria and viruses. They conducted an experiment that featured people from all ages and found out that people with mild or extreme depression had a lower number of “T-cells” compared to those who don’t have.

Photo taken from http://www.healthhype.com

Posted on September 10th, 2011 by editor
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Statistics show that there are more women than men in the field of care giving. This disparity can illustrate the difference between women and men as it shows the nurturing nature of women. As women, they are expected to take care of their children and spouses. This characteristic is then carried over to the society. More women are being part of the care giving force for they can already excel in this particular field without major adjustments. Unlike with men who are groomed to be tough and ‘stoic’, women are expected and assumed by most people to be soft, concern, thoughtful, and accommodating.

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Posted on August 10th, 2011 by editor
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Studies have shown that Alzheimer’s disease has been the prevalent cause of those who need personal care assistance. Since researchers are still in the process of developing the vaccine that has been on the news lately, we can do nothing about it but be on our best defense all the time. Being precautious about your daily diet is the key here. The Journal of American Medical Association or JAMA said in their public release that adding vitamin E to your daily diet can reduce the possibility of you acquiring Alzheimer’s when you get old. Foods full of vitamin include nuts, soya, olive oil and the like. Also, they suggested that supplements are not enough – if you want to stay healthy when you get old, you better work for it real hard.

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Posted on May 10th, 2011 by editor
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Care giving courses are being provided by a bulk of centers/schools. They promise to equip the student with the knowledge and skills (within a short period of time) they need to be employed by hospitals or individuals seeking personal caregivers. As health service providers, they hold in their hands the welfare of the patients and with that caregivers are expected to be well-trained. Furthermore, competition among caregivers is increasing. More people are aspiring to be caregivers in order to go abroad and earn more money. With this as the case, institutions offering care giving courses should ensure that they will produce eligible and competitive caregivers. Their curriculum should be monitored and evaluated to find out whether they are effective and efficient in educating people.

Photo taken from http://www.centcommemorial.org

Posted on April 10th, 2011 by editor
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Not many people know this, but a caregiver’s job is very difficult. First of all, the job of a caregiver is very difficult and tiring. You have a lot of responsibilities that you need to do day in and day out, and on top of that you have to take care of people who have specific needs. Top this off with the fact that sometimes they have to work in abnormal workshifts like late in the evening or very early in the morning and you’ll begin to realize that caregiving is no walk in the park.

It takes a dedicated bunch of people who are service oriented who can really take on the role of a caregiver.

Posted on February 1st, 2011 by Peter
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Develop new ways of coping. Remember to lighten up and be optimistic. Use humor to help deal with everyday stresses.

Stay healthy getting plenty of meals and getting plenty of exercise and sleep.

Accept your feelings, negative or not. Having negative feelings, such as frustration or anger, about your responsibilities or the person for whom you are caring is normal. It does not mean you are a bad person or a bad caregiver.

Join a caregiver support group. Sharing your feelings and experiences with others in the same situation can help you manage stress.

Posted on December 10th, 2010 by Peter
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Caring for elderly parents as well as their own family many aging baby boomers find they are stressed and dealing with guilt. Overcoming caregiver stress and the guilt feelings that often accompanies the role of one person taking care of another is possible.

Guilt is a feeling of perceived failure. This failure may come in the form of expectations we set for ourselves or what we perceive are the expectations that others have set for us.? Our response to these feelings of perceived failure affects our decisions and our actions. Guilt, in any form is detrimental to any relationship.

When caring for another individual, guilt presents itself to us on many different levels. Along with guilty feelings, there are feelings of anger, frustration, resentment and sadness. Many individuals torment themselves with unrealistic expectations and worry trying to anticipate every possible need.

Others find themselves dealing with the disappointment and frustration of uninvolved and uninterested siblings or extended family members Still others find guilt stemming from sadness and fear of losing someone very close to them. They second guess themselves into believing that if they had paid attention sooner, or did something different their aging senior’s condition would be different. What ever the reasons for guilt, they take away from all the good a care giver does.

Guilt can mentally and emotionally imprison a person into making poor decisions or becoming totally immobilized to make any decision. Some individuals are more inclined to feel guilty than others. Learning to manage guilt is imperative for the physical and emotional well being of the care giver as well as the aging senior that are providing care.???

Six tips for dealing with guilt and overcoming caregiver stress

The first step to overcoming guilt is to acknowledge that is a feeling you are experiencing. There are many other feelings that go along with guilt such as sadness, anger, frustration and resentment. If you can acknowledge that you are having these feelings, you can begin to see things from a different perspective. If you have identified and acknowledged you have these negative feelings, take time to identify what is causing you to have these feelings. Are you angry and resentful that you siblings do not pitch in and offer assistance? Do you feel that your life is not your own? Are you afraid that you are loosing someone close to you? Maybe you feel guilty because you wish you did not have to care for the aging seniors in your life. Many feel that they cannot do enough to or are the opposite and resentful that they have to do anything at all. Have you considered your needs and wants? This is a very important step for every care giver to realize. The caregiver needs are just as important as the person for which they are providing care and support. Caregivers feel guilty that they have needs. Many feel that their needs are not as important as their aging senior. This thought can be a big culprit and be the root cause of dealing with guilt and caregiver stress. A care giver must come to realize and accept that unless they take care of themselves and take action to meet their own needs, eventually they become ineffective as a care giver. Learn to be kind and patient with yourself. You are going to have your good days and your bad days. Allow yourself to feel the negative feelings. Realize that your feelings do not have to control your actions. With practice, over time, the guilt feelings will subside.? Acknowledge you have needs and take action to get those needs met. It is OK to have some “me” time. In fact it is necessary. Give yourself permission to be selfish at times.?? Ask for help from others or accept help when it is offered. If you have uninvolved siblings investigate other avenues through the local church, community program or aging and adult services. Explore options to get some free time. ?Aging baby boomers caring for elderly parents must realize that guilt is an emotion that comes with the role of caregiver. Dealing with guilt and overcoming caregiver stress can be accomplished by taking time to meet your own needs. Caregivers need to focus on the good that they achieve everyday and the improved quality of life they bring to the aging senior in their life. With this perspective guilt will never be an issue.

Posted on November 23rd, 2010 by Peter
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Talk to a professional. Most therapists, social workers, and clergy members are trained to counsel individuals dealing with a wide range of physical and emotional issues.

Take advantage of respite care services. They provide a temporary break for caregivers by providing services which range from a few hours of in-home care to a short stay in a nursing home or assisted living facility.

Do a reality check of your personal situation. Recognize and accept your potential for caregiver burnout.

The more you help yourself, the more effective you will be in caring for the person with the illness.

Posted on November 10th, 2010 by Peter
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A caregiver is someone who takes care of the needs of a spouse, parent, child, or other family member who is ill or not able to take care of themselves. Taking care of your self is just as important as taking care of your friend or family member. There are five things that you need to remember and to do in order to have a balance between taking care of your friend or family member and yourself.

Take time off. Everyone needs a break from the responsibility and stress of caring for someone else. Be sure that you have someone who can give you respite care in taking care of your friend or family member. This can be another family member or a respite care service. Taking this time will enable you to recuperate and rest without having to worry about the responsibility. This can help to decrease your stress level and keep you from burning out. Take care of your personal needs. Make sure that you eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, and get enough rest. Ask your physician if a multi-vitamin is something that you should consider. Taking care of yourself physically will help you to have the energy to take care of your family member or friend. Look for a support group for caregivers. This is a great way for you to get support and information about caregiving. It can help to diffuse the stress and emotions of the entire process. A specialized group for the type of caregiving that you are doing (whether for an Alzheimer’s patient, cancer patient, etc.) can give you inside information about being the type of caregiver that you want to be. A general caregivers’ support group can also be a place of comfort and a reassurance that you are not alone. You may also seek the help of a Caregiver Coach to support you in living balanced. Make lists and make priorities. A daily or even weekly list of tasks that needs to be done can help to keep you on track. It may serve as a tool to make feel more in control. By prioritizing your list, you can better determine what you need to do and when it needs to get done. This can keep you on track and can take some of the stress from the caregiving process. Stay in touch. Be sure that you stay in touch with friends and keep your outside interests. Whether you enjoy having coffee with your friends once a week or you enjoy attending a craft class, these activities can be very important to keep. They will give you the opportunity to refresh your mind and get away from the stress for a little while. This is also a great way to prevent burning out.

Being a caregiver is a very fulfilling; however, it is not an easy job. Some people find that they quickly burn out simply because they do not take the time or effort to care for themselves. This is to the detriment of the people that they are caring for, because they quickly become tired and burnt out. If a caregiver can find a balance between taking care of their own life and that of the person that they are caring for, then they will be able to care for their family member with love and compassion.

So, use these keys as an example of some of the ways to live a balanced life as a caregiver. You may find that you create your own way of introducing balance to your life. As your mind become open to the idea of living balanced, you will start finding new ways to do so. Start creating your new life today.

Posted on October 29th, 2010 by Peter
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