Caring for Our Caregivers

Being a caregiver is a powerful responsibility and a great undertaking. Today, one in every five adults are caregivers, and most caregivers have another job on top of the work they do for their loved ones. Caregivers help with a plethora of tasks ranging from housework to medical care to transportation. It’s important that those who are caring for a loved one receive the help they need as well.

By caring for our caregivers, we can partner with families to create a more effective system of support.

Relieving Caregiver Stress

As rewarding as being a caregiver can be, it can also be stressful. Since most caregivers are on call most days or are consistently providing some sort of help, they report much higher levels of stress than the typical family member. In order to effectively care for your loved one, it’s important to manage or prevent caregiver stress. Ways caregivers can relieve stress include:

• See your doctor for regular check-ups. Informing your primary care provider that you are a caregiver will help you in getting the best care possible.
• Learn what resources are available to you. Find caregiving resources in your community to help you. Some communities have adult daycare services or respite services for primary caregivers to receive a break from their duties.
• Ask for and accept help.
• Join a support group for caregivers. You can share stories, pick up caregiving tips, and get support from others who face the same challenges you do.
• Get organized. Make to-do lists and set a daily routine.
• Take time for yourself. Stay in touch with family and friends and do things you enjoy.
• Take care of your health. Find the time to stay active, regulate a sleep schedule that allows you to get enough rest, and choose foods that fuel your body.

At The Senior Alliance, we want to help support caregivers to allow them to provide the best possible care for their loved ones while also prioritizing themselves. Programs like the Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP), which allows caregivers to help make informed medical decisions while understanding the Medicare and Medicaid programs, can remove some of the burden from caregivers. Applications for both Extra Help and the Medicare Savings Program are available through MMAP as well. Utilizing these and other like programs, caregivers can receive financial support as they work to take care of their loved ones.

Finding Social Support

The key to better health and memory retention for aging adults could be as simple as developing strong relationships and social support. Social connections have proven to be the surprise connection to longevity. Research shows that as individuals age, social capital, which refers to connections, trust, and conversation capacity of any individual, becomes increasingly more important. When social capital is fostered, there are numerous health benefits that come out of the interactions. In aging adults, nurturing socialization in a community can help to reduce stress, ward off anxiety and depression, and reduce the risk of some physical health concerns.

Social support is also an important factor in improving memory and increasing one’s lifespan by reducing stress and isolation. One recent study found that mental cognitive abilities decreased 70% slower in those that fostered social interaction as they aged. Older individuals can utilize exercise classes or another form of group activity to build relationships with a positive impact.

Caregiver Resources Available through The Senior Alliance

Finding sources for social support can seem difficult. However, at The Senior Alliance, we make it easy. Caregivers, aging adults, and adults with disabilities can utilize TSA’s Resource Directory to search for available programs and services to find the best fit for their family and their needs. Aging adults can search for day programs to foster communication and connect with other adults in similar circumstances.

Another resource that can be helpful is the Friendly Reassurance program. At predetermined times up to five times a week, aging adults will receive a phone call from a friendly, trained staff member. These calls offer individuals a sense of security by giving them a daily check-in while also allowing them to foster a relationship and providing them with an outlet to speak to so they can live their way. For caregivers, this program helps provide a sense of security to the aging individuals while also allowing caregivers to have a secondary resource and support system.

For more information about the programs and resources we offer, visit our website. To connect with someone on our team about family and caregiver support services available through The Senior Alliance, call us at 734-722-2830 or email us at info@thesenioralliance.org.