Letter to the Editor: Family Caregivers are Superheroes

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Not all superheroes wear capes. Family caregivers are superheroes. Your many roles are complicated and complex, but you rise to the demands and challenges of the caregiver role every day, often 24/7.

There are tools for you — tools available to help you and make life a bit easier. During National Family Caregivers Month, we want family caregivers to use caregiving tools to make their lives a bit easier.

Seek support from other caregivers: Caregiving is overwhelming. Share with other caregivers, the tools you use and the highs and lows of caregiving. Discover you are not alone as others share many of the same experiences.

Take care of your physical and mental health: Caregiving is hard. It’s hard on both your body and mind. It’s important that you stay strong enough in both to take care of your loved one. Watch for the signs of depression and don’t delay in getting professional help.

Accept offers of help:  Loving family, friends and neighbors want to help, but often don’t know how. Offer specific tasks or ways they can assist you; for example, shopping for groceries, helping with house cleaning, visiting with your loved one while you run errands

Patient advocacy: Be the advocate for your loved one. Ask questions. If a service provider’s answer isn’t clear, keep asking until you are. Learn how to communicate with providers.

Technology: New technological advances can help with caregiving. Many large hospitals and clinics now have ways to access health information on your loved one. You can view current medication, latest test results and making your appointments. Various apps for smart phones allow you to take vital signs to connecting with caregiving support groups.

Medications: While this can be complicated when your loved one has numerous medications, your first step is to organize the medications, verify that they are up to date and destroy old medications. Be sure you have a list of all current medications to take to the provider at each appointment.

Most Important: Remember you are a superhero and doing the best you can in one of the toughest jobs there is.



Get the tools you need by contacting the Lewis, Mason, Thurston Area Agency on Aging at 360-664-2168 or visit www.LMTAAA.org, or stop by the Chehalis office at 1651 S. Market Blvd. in Chehalis. The AAA is the “go to” for services for older adults and their services are free.

 

Lynn Ford

Chehalis

Washington State Council

on Aging member

LMT Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council member