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Home Tech and Self Care Spotlights National Caregivers Month

11/12Leave a Comment

Home Tech & Self Care in the Spotlight

for National Family Caregivers Month

National Caregivers MonthHome Tech and Self Care is in the Spotlight this National Family Caregivers Month.

As the United States population ages, more and more people will become caregivers.

Currently, 90 million people, or nearly a third of the population, fulfill this challenging role, with 15 million of them providing care services unpaid.

Caregivers primarily provide assistance to the elderly, and the vast majority of seniors want to age comfortably in their own homes. This includes individuals living with Alzheimer’s Disease.

This year’s Conference on Aging called unpaid caregivers the “backbone of long-term services” because nearly two-thirds of seniors depend wholly on caregivers for their needs. Most of the rest depend on a combination of informal caregivers and professional care.

According to the Conference on Aging website, the average caregiver provides about 75 hours of care a month – or over two hours per day. In 2011, they provided care that was worth $234 billion. By contrast, Medicaid paid for $131.4 billion while private organizations covered $24.4 billion. Although Medicare provides medical insurance for 90% of the country’s seniors, it does not cover long-term care. Medicaid does – but there are waiting lists in some states.

Caregivers, however, seldom receive recognition for their services. As their seniors’ conditions worsen, they can lose the ability to communicate and are thus not always able to express their gratitude. Caregivers need to be told that their work matters. They need reassurance and guidance from healthcare professionals to make certain they are doing the right thing.

Most Caregivers are dedicated to the people they help. Yet, too often, Self-care is not an easy matter for them. They need praise and help from friends and family.

In 2012, President Obama proclaimed November to be National Family Caregivers Month. The initiative would honor people who were caring for a disabled or elderly loved one, and it would call attention to the needs of the Caregiver. National Family Caregivers Month always has a different theme each year. This year, it’s “Respite: Care for Caregivers.”

People who care for an elderly or disabled loved one are generally under a great deal of stress and they do not always practice self-care to take care of themselves. This can have a detrimental effect on their health and there have been cases of caregivers dying before their elderly do.

Some organizations and websites do provide help for caregivers. ARCH or Access to Respite Care and Help describes itself as a “resource center and respite network.” It is a database that helps caregivers find support groups and includes information about caring for people with specific disabilities and how-to find funding, in addition to offering webinars and other training resources. The National Alliance for Caregiving is a group of organizations dedicated to easing the lives of caregivers.

They conduct research on the demographics of caregivers and provide information that caregivers can use. AARP, which is generally thought of as being mainly concerned with seniors, also supports caregivers. Last October, the organization launched an initiative called Random Acts of Kindness for Caregivers to encourage the friends and family of caregivers to support them.

There is also an array of technologies to help caregivers in their work. These include wearable devices that contain sensors that monitor items like the patient’s heart rate or body temperature. Many of these also contain trackers that enable a caregiver to keep tabs on their charge’s whereabouts. These devices are often linked to the caregiver’s computer or smartphone and can alert the caregiver if their charge falls or wanders off.

There are smartphones designed for seniors and gadgets to help both caregivers and their charges keep track of medications. Smart security systems monitor seniors and their surroundings and can call for help if need be. These gadgets can make life easier for caregivers and help seniors keep their independence longer.

Author: Beth Kelly is a technology and security blogger, who primarily covers topics pertaining to healthcare tech, energy efficiency, and home security. You can follow her on Twitter at @bkelly_88


Filed Under: Caring for the Caregiver, The Caregiver Tagged With: Caring for the Caregiver, Home Tech and Self Care, Self-Care for Caregivers

Tips for Success – Self-Care for Caregivers

10/231 Comment

Self-Care for Caregivers

Tips to Help You Succeed on a Care-Giving Journey for Someone with Alzheimer’s Disease

Discovering that a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is a difficult fact to have to come to terms with. Many people choose to offer their own services to care for and support their loved one during the emotional and stressful journey. There is currently no cure for this disease and it can be very difficult to see the person you loved slowly disappear before your eyes.

It is essential to maintain your own mental and physical health during this time to ensure you can provide the best quality care and enjoy the remaining time you have together. The following tips will help you succeed in your journey:

Senator Winfield Visits West Haven Seniors to Discuss CARE Act

Find out as much as you can about Alzheimer’s

The more you know about Alzheimer’s Disease the better you will be able to understand what your loved one is going through and how you can best help them. Taking time, early in the care process will not affect the quality of care you can offer but it will help you to prepare for the future.

While your loved one is in the early stages of the disease it is essential to talk to them and understand their opinions. Together you can decide the best care path to follow and this will help in the more difficult later stages.

Become a competent caregiver

No matter how much you love the person, offering a care giving service may be a new and scary experience. Again, while your loved one is in the early stages of the disease, you should attend a care giving course. This will update your skills and provide you with the opportunity to meet others in the same situation. There support may be invaluable to you.

Don’t be ashamed to ask for assistance

It is not possible to provide all the health care your loved one will need, particularly if you have your own family, a job and your own commitments to look after.  You also will have a specific skill set.

Never be afraid to ask others to help, family members may be better at handling the finances while you offer the car. There are also dedicated agencies which can assist with the care; leaving you free to sort other details, and enjoy some quality time with your loved one.

There are an abundance of resources available which can and should be used to assist you and your loved one.

Senior Dance 3

Learn to cope with stress

No matter how well you plan it and even if you enlist the help of others it will be a stressful journey.  It is essential to periodically take time out for yourself to de-stress.

Step away from everything with a little quality time; this can be exercising, having a coffee with friends or simply exercising. Anything that relaxes your mind will enable you to provide better care. It is essential to care for yourself and have regular check-ups; if you make yourself ill you will be unable to offer any care!

Know the signs of burn Out

It is essential to recognize the following signs that you are becoming burnt out. This means you are taking on too much and not looking after your own needs.

If you have any of the following symptoms then stop what you are doing, enlist help and take care of your own needs; your loved one would not want you to get sick on their account:

  • Denying the effects of the disease on your loved one.
  • Becoming angry at your loved one because they have Alzheimer’s.
  • Withdrawing from your social connections.
  • Excess anxiety regarding the future.
  • Becoming depressed
  • Physical and emotional exhaustion
  • Inability to sleep properly, leading to exhaustion and irritability.
  • Lack of ability to concentrate. Not being able to remember the last time you felt good.

Look after your own needs so that you can offer the best care possible to your loved one; and enjoy your time with them. Think of all the good moments you’ve shared together, and talk about them. Do your best to cheer them up, and always talk calmly and patiently with them.

Author: Edward Francis and Foresthc.com!

 

Hope for the Caregiver: Encouraging WordsThe Caregiver’s Companion: Caring for Your Loved One aring for Yourself

Filed Under: Care Tips, Caring for the Caregiver, The Caregiver Tagged With: Hints to Successful Caregiving, Learn to cope with stress, Self-Care for Caregivers

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