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Managing The Stress ~ Making The Decisions ~ Discovering The Meaning |
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Caregiving |
Solutions To Your Caregiving Situations Throughout Your Caregiving Years |
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The Professional’s Perspective: What Are The Traits of a Successful Family Caregiver?
Caregivers come from a variety of social, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds that may affect how they view their caregiving experiences. Nonetheless, there are certain traits that can contribute to a successful caregiving experience. First, and the most important – successful caregivers take care of themselves as well as their care recipients. Second, caregivers understand that they are part of a team and are not afraid to engage family, friends, and professionals as partners in some of the caregiving responsibilities. Successful caregivers understand that they do not have to do everything themselves. Friends can help with shopping. Other family members can provide respite. Professionals can provide information about services, and in some cases, care recipients can be active partners in care management. Third, successful caregivers are knowledgeable about the resources available to them and to the individuals under their care. Fourth, and likely the result of the first three traits, successful caregivers are able to successfully balance their responsibilities for work (if they are employed), family, care recipient and themselves. --Helen M. Eltzeroth, Project Manager, Caregiver Coalition Research Project, AARP Foundation, Washington, DC
Successful family caregivers recognize that they are not 'an island onto themselves'--that they can't do this alone. They latch on to support services like caregiver groups, telephone buddies and respite care. Time for themselves and peer support can greatly improve their physical and emotional well-being, making them even better caregivers. They also try to maintain their own identities in addition to their caregiver identities. This helps them enjoy life more now, and sets the stage for when their caregiving role ends. In addition, many diseases like Alzheimer's are hard for caregivers to stare in the face. But acceptance leads to empowerment. Being educated about a disease and its progression bolsters a family member's ability to cope in the present and to plan ahead. For example, caregivers gain reassurance and experience less guilt if they discuss issues such as long-term care and living wills while their loved ones are still capable of providing input. Although it's a challenge, successful caregivers try to have an upbeat attitude when dealing with an ill person. Positive reinforcements such as smiles, praise, a gentle touch are much more effective than negativity. And even in the most difficult situations, keeping a sense of humor helps caregivers get through the day. At the same time, successful caregivers recognize that it's okay to find a safe space to unleash their emotions--to be angry, to cry, to grieve. They give themselves permission to be human. --Eric J. Hall, Chief Executive Officer, Alzheimer's Foundation of America, New York, NY, http://www.alzfdn.org/index.html
(Successful family caregivers) have a feeling that they’re doing a good job and feel fulfilled because of that. We talk about the burden, but there’s also a benefit. It’s not just a feeling of being useful. There’s a closeness with the family member. I would look for someone who can tap into these emotions, find the value of the experience for emotional and spiritual growth, someone who really has found a meaning in the experience. Most people will not experience this on a consistent basis, but the hope is that they will know peace and fulfillment at some point. --Dr. Joanne G. Schwartzberg, MD, Geriatrician, Director of Aging and Community Health, American Medical Association, Chicago, Ill.
(Editor’s Note: The American Medical Association developed a Caregiver Self-assessment Questionnaire for physicians to use when interacting with family caregivers. The test is available online at the AMA web site, www. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/5037.html. If your physician hasn’t asked you to complete the questionnaire, simply print, complete and bring to your next appointment. The questionnaire will help determine your areas of stress and what suggestions/referrals your physician can recommend to keep you in good shape. FYI: Before becoming available to physicians, the questionnaire was tested about five years ago on family caregivers nationwide, including subscribers to Caregiving! newsletter.) |
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