Caregiving Special Focus

Solutions To Your Caregiving Situations Throughout Your Caregiving Years

Your Truth and The Team Forming The Team You've voice your truths. Now, these truths will be the first step in forming your team. Oh, you may think, there's no way I'll get anyone to be on my team. True, you may have some who will run when you appear clipboard in hand. But, think about it, you already have some team members, you just haven't seen them as such. For instance, on a bad day, maybe your dog, Trixie, provides the love and healing you need. Well, guess what, Trixie is on your team! And, maybe, your trips to the drugstore are helpful because of that nice pharmacist, Bruce, who always has a smile and a helpful tip to share. Yep, Bruce has made the team! The first step to forming your team is to determine why you need a team. So, write your answers to this question: Why do I need a team? Your answers may be: For support For answers For breaks For laughs For reassurance For errand-running For bill-paying For hands-on care And on and on. Next, answer this question: What responsibilities do I want to delegate to my team? Your answers may be: Provide a three-hour break twice a week. Provide a one-week break every year. Research community options for me. Lend an objective ear. Keep me realistic in my role. Once you understand the purpose and role of your team, you're ready to build it. Again, you may already have some members, some you may have to recruit. Next, answer: Who do I want on my team? Your answers may be: The caregiver specialist at the Area Agency on Aging The home health aide The librarian My best friend My support group My neighbor My local assisted living facility My brother Here's an example of how we can put it all together: My caregiving truths are that I hate staying home with my care recipient on Saturday afternoons, that I want help with cooking because my cooking is awful, and I wish I could find more time to read a book each week. I also have lots of anger about my situation and want someone to vent to. With this in mind, I decide I want a team to help me get out a few Saturdays each month, relieve me of some of cooking responsibilities, free up some time for me to read more and provide an objective ear. I decide that my team can include a home health aide to stay with my care recipient, a family member to prepare frozen meals that I can microwave, the librarian to update me when a good book arrives and a support group member to be my venting buddy. I'm ready to start recruiting! --Home health aide I call local agencies to find an agency that can best meet my needs. I interview home health aides and work with the agency to find the right professional caregiver for myself and my care recipient. And, what the heck, I ask my brother to foot the bill. I call him and say, "I'd love your help with Mom. I'd like to take three hours off two Saturdays a month. I found a great aide to stay with Mom while I'm gone. Can you help out with the expense--it would mean so much to mean." --Frozen meals I send my family members an update e-mail. I let them know how much it means to be able to take care of our care recipient and how grateful I am for their support. I am running into one problem, though, I write. I'm a terrible cook! I'd love some help. Would you be able to help with a few frozen meals each week that I can microwave? --Books I call my local library and explain my situation to the librarian. I miss reading great books, I explain, but my time constraints make getting to the library difficult. In addition, I'm completely out of ideas as to which books are worth reading. Can you help? --Venting Buddy I ask a member of my support group if he or she would be interested in being venting partners. We'll call each other every week, I suggest. I vent for 10 minutes while my support group friend merely listens. Then, it's his turn. As with all things, the recruiting process may have starts-and-stops--that is okay! Keep asking until you find the right solution. And, for those team members you didn't have to recruit (like Trixie and Bruce) be sure to include them in your regular thanks to the team. Your gratitude and appreciation keeps your team full. Index of Articles: Telling It Like It Is Forming the Team Staying Resolute in the Face of Rejection Resources Tell a friend about this article:

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