Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links. We may earn a small commission for purchases made through links in this post, at no extra cost to you.
How to Connect Family Caregivers
What's the best way to connect family caregivers? If I were asking myself that question, I'd say the internet. Most family caregivers work eight-to-late as my one friend put it, and I agree. Of course there may be days when you have free time, but that depends on the level of disability of your loved one.
For me, Cir is able to still do many things on his own, but leaving for any length of time is mostly out of the question. For the most part, I am there with him all day everyday, except when I run errands and occasionally a coffee date at the cafe down the street. I try not to venture too far in case I need to get back home quickly.
So far that hasn't happened yet. I can usually get done what I need to get done in a few hours and get back home. Many times I will wait to leave when I know someone will be there, either my daughter or the nurses aide. And I'm usually home before she leaves, or shortly after.
When I'm gone, I'm always worrying about whether or not he will fall and not be able to get to the phone. He's still very strong in his upper body, so I don't doubt that he would be able to get himself up. If he were to fall the wrong way, hit his head, or twist his back is what worries me. When he took martial arts years ago, he learned how to fall correctly and most times he takes the time to plan his moves so that he doesn't make a misstep.
Unfortunately, there's always the chance of an accident happening. I'm sure most family caregivers feel the same way when they need to leave their loved one. Connecting with other family caregivers, at least away from home is not high on the priority list. I have found a of group and a website, however, where caregivers can talk freely online about the things they are going through.
Resources to Connect Family Caregivers
- Caregivers can ask questions or answer questions from other caregivers. They can share tips and pointers about what has worked for them. They can vent or offer support to others who are going through the same things. One of these is a Facebook group called Well Spouse**. It's mainly for spouse caregivers and you have to be accepted into the group when you sign up to join. So far, I'm not very active, but enjoy reading some of the posts.
- Another website, is www.Caregiver.com**. They offer a magazine – Today's Caregiver - that is For, About, and By Caregivers. They also have a weekly online newsletter, that features interviews, tips from fellow caregivers, support resources, and the like. In fact, there was an article where the editor, Gary Barg, interviewed Montel Williams, about the challenges caregivers face.
- I recently found this site - Caregivers Library (no longer available) - I especially liked the Checklists and Forms, from housing, to record keeping, to legal matters, and more. You could find every form you could think of and probably several you have never thought of. I've been looking for a similar resource and when I find it, I will link it here. If you know of the website, let us know.
- This site is similar to the Caregivers Library, though not as extensive, and that is the Family Caregiver Alliance - I love their Mission and Values statement which you can find below.
- This site - Lotsahelpinghands - helps you organize all the helpers who will come into your life. Friends and family, volunteers will have a place to go to find out times and ways that they can help.
- Another site - Caregiver Action Network - provides education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers across the country free of charge. I like these 10 Tips for Family Caregivers and the Caregiver Videos page.
So there you have it, a few ways to connect family caregivers, and caregivers in general. One of the things that Montel Williams mentions in his interview, is that caregivers need to take care of themselves. By neglecting to do this, you as a caregiver won't be able to do your job as well as you should.
FCA - Our Mission and Values
The mission of Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) is to improve the quality of life for family caregivers and the people who receive their care.
Values
Respect
- We believe caregivers, their relatives/friends who need assistance and their extended families should be the decision makers in care.
Options
- We are committed to increasing the range of choices available to families to suit their particular situations.
Quality
- We are committed to quality and to providing the best of what’s available, through timely, prompt service, well-trained staff and up-to-date information.
Innovation
- We strive to be a knowledge organization, developing or incorporating new service models and creating partnerships between research and service.
Diversity
- We are committed to serving the diverse and changing population of caregivers.
Collaboration
- We form partnerships with other organizations and agencies to further our mutual aims.
Efficiency
- We seek to use our resources to the fullest, waste nothing and stand ready to account for what we do.
"...if you don't take care of yourself, you won't do any good for anybody because the person you're taking care of won't be able to absorb your humanity or your spirit if you're depressed, if you yourself are tired, if you aren't paying attention to your own personal health." There may come a moment when you have to tell your friend that I love you, but I need a little break, and I bet you could use a little break from me too, so let me take one and I'll see you in a few hours or in a few days. Take a break, rather than let it fester and damage your relationship.
Do you know of a Resource to Connect Family Caregivers?
Do you know of a family caregiver support group or resource?
Please share it here. Whether it's a support group in your area or online we'd love to include it. If it's a resource that will make a caregivers life a little easier so that he or she can be better at what they do, we appreciate you sharing it with our visitors. Thank you.
Dear Friends,
"Life in Spite of MS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We're also part of the Ebay Partner Network, another affiliate program."
We'd also like you to know it doesn't cost one cent more when you click through the links here on our blog. Not one single penny. And we will make a little extra cash when you do click through. We'll be ever so appreciative. You also have our word that we'll only link to things that we would use ourselves, (or wish we could have or use).
Sincerely,
Cir & Akrista
You are reading original content written by Akrista or Cir L'Bert of Life in Spite of MS. If you enjoyed reading this blog, please consider following us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. See you there!
Privacy Policy ~ Advertising Policy ~ Disclaimer ~ Contact Us ~ About Us
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.