Caregivers Tips Worth Sharing

Caregivers are, as I have said before, remarkable people. They take care of loved ones because they care. Along the way they often have tough, unexpected lessons to learn about the medical maze, self-care, and more.
What’s makes them EXTRA remarkable is how they still find time to help other caregivers. A helping hand with tasks, a kind word, or a gentle nod of understanding.

As a caregiver myself, I found the comfort of other caregivers invaluable. These were people who understood my frustrations, hopes, and fears.

Here are some tips I received from fellow-caregivers, who in the trenches alongside me or before me, helped me to make sense of what it truly means to be a caregiver.

• Take time to help yourself or you will not be fit enough to help others.
• Remember its one day at a time and sometimes you have to break that down to one hour at a time.
• Feeling angry is a part of the process. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you can move through it.
• Never forget the person your loved one is. Disease can cloak the person, but he or she is still someone very special to you.
• Pick your battles. Some require more effort than they are worth.
• Caregiving can be one way to honor and respect your loved one.
• You can learn to ask for help and to let go of the small stuff.

I hope that these tips prove useful for you, too.
To learn more about what I have learned you can download my free ebooks, Being a Caregiver Isn’t Magic: It’s An Art and 13 Tips for Caregivers.