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Family Caregiver Awareness Days
Job Jar Day: November 1, 2008Help Around the House for Family Caregivers Family caregivers tell us that two of the most difficult aspects of caregiving are getting other relatives to help and finding affordable help. Do you have a sibling (or cousin or close friend) who provides care to a spouse, child, adult child or aging relative? Would you like to help, but not sure how? The Center for Family Caregivers, a non-profit organization, is sponsoring Job Jar Day on November 1. The organization encourages family and friends of family caregivers (persons caring for family members suffering from a chronic illness or disability) to take time on that day to help around the house--the home of the family caregiver and/or the care recipient. Would you like to help, but not sure how to approach the family caregiver? Simply call the family caregiver in your life and say, “I’d like to come by on Saturday, November 1, to help you around the house. Please let me know what jobs you’d like me to do.” Indicate how long you’ll be able to stay (although plan on at least two hours) and which jobs you feel particularly comfortable handling (i.e., grocery shopping, lawn care, simple home repairs). Ask the family caregiver what time you should plan on arriving. Don’t be surprised if your request stumps the family caregiver; often family caregivers are so overwhelmed it’s difficult for them to see what help they need. To help everyone get off to a good and productive start with their Job Jar Day, The Center has compiled the following list of jobs that family caregivers may need help with: 1. Installing grab bars in the care recipient's bathroom. 2. Adding no-skid backing on all throw rugs. 3. Weeding the garden. 4. Mowing the lawn and raking leaves. 5. Cleaning out the refrigerator. 6. Making, and freezing, enough meals to last a week. 7. "Winterizing" the home, preparing storm windows, cleaning the fireplace. 8. Washing windows. 9. Re-painting areas on walls marked up by wheelchair traffic. 10. Giving the care recipient's bedroom (or the room or space where personal care occurs) a deep cleaning. 11. Cleaning the car that the family caregiver and care recipient use. 12. Getting caught up on laundry. 13. Mopping floors. 14. Organizing closets. 15. Re-arranging furniture to best accommodate care needs. 16. Removing stains on furniture and in carpeting. Then, on November 1, show up on time with a smile, your tool belt (or cleaning supplies) and a box of donuts. *** Job Jar Day is one of three Family Caregiver Awareness Days The Center for Family Caregivers has developed; Kiss a Caregiver and Cook for a Caregiver take place annually in November and March, respectively. Through Family Caregiver Awareness Days, The Center hopes to create awareness of the family caregiver role within the community and within the family. And, the days also create opportunities for other family members to get involved. Sometimes, both family members and family caregivers struggle to communicate effectively with each other. And, often, the family caregiver finds asking for help very difficult, often because they are so overwhelmed by all they do. The Awareness Days try to eliminate some of the anxiety of the communication between the family and the family caregiver. Note to Family Caregivers: Want to get your family involved, but not sure how? Send them a copy of this article with a note: "Would you be able to help me? I would be most grateful." If your family is not available (or willing) to help, then ask your church, senior center and any other service organization (such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts) for help. Remember: Your family may not help. But, there is help for you in the community. Finally, when your family members do come to help, keep the day simple. Refrain from discussions that make everyone crazy. Let go of any resentments or anger you may feel toward family members, however warranted, at least for the day. Provide refreshments. And, enjoy.
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