5 Things You Never Knew About Caregiving
You’ve recently become a caregiver, or you think you might be one soon.
It feels a little like going to a new country where you don’t speak the language or understand the culture.
You’re worried you’ll do something wrong or make your care recipient uncomfortable.
Don’t worry; there’s help for this and more. Here are a few things you can do to help yourself and a care recipient.
1. First, know that caregiving is not simply for someone who’s old or has a memory problem.
Caregiving happens at all stages of life, including childhood, young and middle adulthood, and when we are older.
You don’t have to provide personal care or be in the exact location to be a caregiver.
Caregivers do those things and more. They make decisions, pay bills, provide transportation, and offer emotional support.
2. You are not alone, even if it seems like it at times.
Caregiving is not an everyday topic in daily conversations, so it can feel odd to bring it up or know what questions to ask. Let me assure you that you are not alone. Before the pandemic, the most recent statistics showed that 53 million Americans identified as family caregivers. We can assume that number has increased since 2020.
During this time, we realized how important it is to:
determine who is caregiving, and
determine what their needs are.
Maybe you noticed coworkers with caregiving situations you hadn’t known about before.
And if you’re a millennial, you’re the second largest group of caregivers.
3. Caregivers need to have certain documents in place to help them with their responsibilities.
Depending on your caregiving role, you need legal documents that allow you to make decisions about care, finances, and more. Legal help is available no matter your financial situation.
Having conversations and getting clear about what’s needed will reduce stress and make the road ahead easier.
My “Getting Your Docs in A Row” checklist is an excellent place to start.
4. Caregiving can be a joyful occurrence.
Yes, it’s stressful and challenging at times.
But, it’s also a time to focus on how much we care about others and offer our talents.
The positive aspects increase when you put yourself in the caregiving equation and keep your tank at least half-full. Everyone benefits from a well-cared-for caregiver.
5. Insurance doesn’t cover everything.
Coverage is dependent on insurance, age, and sometimes a diagnosis.
In addition, some states allow reimbursement for care.
The VA also has benefits for caregivers who meet the criteria for coverage.
Finding out what’s available helps you preserve resources and connects you to support services.
Next Steps
Starting a caregiving process can feel overwhelming, but the good news is that many things only need to be done once.
Creating a foundation for caregiving gets everyone on the same page and makes ongoing communication easier.
It also allows for adding others to the circle of support.
Because you’re not alone, you find other caregivers who speak the same language and understand your experience.
Do any of these issues sound familiar? If so, let’s book a free call to see what you need and how I can help.
Warmly,
PS. If you’re curious how I got started as a caregiver and my experiences that led me to provide caregiving support to others, I go in-depth in my article called “So why am I interested in caregiving?”
Caregiving can be a challenging time.
Grab my “Getting Your Docs In A Row” checklist to help you prepare to care.