When Northbrook Family Caregivers Should Get Help

Family caregivers in Northbrook can be stubborn and often that helps them persist through the difficult times when caring for a loved one. Caregiving requires a special commitment and dedication. Taking care of a family member or loved one can became very stressful but caregivers keep trying, often putting their own health and well-being at risk.

Taking on the role of a family caregiver can be difficult and in order to manage and survive the building stress, caregivers have to pay attention to their own symptoms, listen to what their bodies are saying. Most importantly, it is important for family caregivers to recognize when they need the extra help.

It’s Time to Get Help When You Are Experiencing the Following Symptoms:

1. Feeling hopeless and trapped. There can be days, even weeks or months that go by when you can feel trapped as the stress builds and creates a feeling of hopelessness.
2. Feeling angry and short tempered. Unrestrained stress can take you to the breaking point. If you find yourself losing your temperature constantly, it could be time to take a step back. Look at what’s really going on and evaluate your options before you do something you really regret.
3. Not sleeping, worried? Are you unable to get a good night’s rest? Is your mind racing with worry? One way to reduce the number of things running through your mind is to write them down on paper or in a notebook that you keep at your bedside.
4. Feeling inadequate or not enough. Caregiving is extremely demanding, and caregivers want to do the best they can. However, often times you can feel that you aren’t doing enough and then guilt begins to develop, possibly creating anger and helplessness and eventually depression
5. Caregiver Dementia. When you feel the worlds weight on your shoulders for too long you might find yourself forgetting things and growing somewhat disoriented. Caregiver dementia strikes an estimated 100 million caregivers worldwide. Fortunately it’s one of the few reversible forms of dementia.

Caregiving Help

Increasing awareness of caregiving needs along with our aging society has created a number of caregiving options. The services range from adult day care service to in-home care, palliative to in home hospice support. The following are a few suggestions that provide an opportunity to help family caregivers take care of themselves.

1. In-home care is a perfect option for family caregivers that are homebound or looking for a highly personalized plan of care. A professional caregiver or certified nursing assistant (CNA) can help with companionship, meal planning and preparation, all activities of daily living (ADLs)such as dressing, bathing, grooming, mobility or medication reminder and light health housekeeping. Support can run from as little as a few hours a week to 24 hours a day.
2. Caregiver support groups are a great place to go when you’re feeling hopeless, alone and are looking for like-minded individuals to talk to. Check with your local organization like the North Shore Senior Center to get referrals for caregiver support groups in your area. Support groups typically meet weekly, biweekly or on a monthly basis.

These are just a few of the many care options that are available to help reduce caregiver stress. Visit www.TheHomeCareSpot.com/resources to find a wealth of care support options and resources.