Photo by Jack Sparrow
Being friends with a caregiver can often be lonely for both sides. Most American households consist of people over 50 who require assistance. What can people close to them do to feel loved and cared for?
If you have a friend or family member who’s a caregiver, professional or not, you should be empathetic and understanding of the demands of their job. They spend extensive hours providing physical companionship and mental and emotional support for others at their expense.
Taking on the role of a caregiver means a considerable sacrifice psychologically, emotionally, and financially. The journey may be long, arduous, and challenging, especially when the patient needs hands-on care, is difficult to deal with, or has particular impairments. But at the very least, the wonderful journey of caring for a loved one can be rewarding.
The worst-case scenario is it could lead to burnout.
So as a loved one or a caregiver, what can you do to ease their stress and prevent them from breaking down?
Here are some suggestions for providing support for a caregiver:
1 – Never fail to keep in touch.
Caregivers don’t have time to make personal calls to maintain friendships or physical connections. Keep in touch by accepting the responsibility to call or text them to maintain a relationship and provide support.
If the caregiver lives far from you, send a card or note with a lovely and encouraging message. You can even send them a voice note or video clip showing how much you care, even from a distance.
2 – Please familiarize yourself with the role of a caregiver.
Educating yourself about caregiving duties will help you understand their routine and will allow you to provide emotional support from a knowledge base.
3 – Always ask instead of assuming.
You can offer assistance. It is best to ask what type of assistance the caregiver may need. You can assist with basic household duties, run errands or just sit quietly and visit. This level of initiative will be greatly appreciated and caregivers deserve all the support they can obtain from friends and family.
4 – Appreciate them in various ways.
There are many ways to show appreciation and support to a caregiver. While they may be unable to leave their duties to go to dinner or a movie, a simple visit is often enough. Appreciation for all they do can be as simple as bringing them flowers to brighten their day.
5 – Show up for them, especially in their lowest moments.
Caregivers endure many silent struggles. If a caregiver wants to talk about the difficulties they face listen. Do not try to offer advice, suggestions or ask questions which could do more harm than good. Lend an ear, have an open mind and heart.
6 – Get the caregiver into support groups or social communities.
Caregiving can be lonely and isolating. If you are unable to provide sufficient support, suggest community groups or social media sites where information can be found. If you think the caregiver is in an unsafe environment, This list of support groups has many options for caregivers
