Well-meaning friends and relatives may say: “Life doesn’t give you more than you can handle.” But that doesn’t mean you have to handle it alone. Caregiving can be relentless, exhausting, and overwhelming. For family caregivers like myself, there can be a sense of loneliness and isolation, which can affect your overall health and well-being. As a friend of a family caregiver, take the first step of building a short list of close family or friends who are able to help in any way.
2. Let It GoHow can you encourage caregivers to pace themselves to remain emotionally and physically strong? What helped me “let go” was a family member who took that short list from step 1 and divvied up daily tasks and errands by creating a schedule. Loved ones consistently delivered meals, purchased groceries, helped with house and yard work, attended doctor’s appointments, and much more. I found it helpful to ask friends and to use some of the many resources available online to help navigate the complexities of insurance, social services, medication, and financial management.
3. Step Away and find HumorRegardless of how strong and positive caregivers try to be, daily life involves…
