10 Tips for Caregivers

1. Caregiving is a job, and respite is your earned right. Reward yourself with breaks!
2. Watch for signs of depression, and don't delay in getting professional help when you need it. Forgive yourself when things don't go as you planned.
3. When people offer to help, accept the offer and suggest specific things that they can do. For example: "Dinner at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday would be great."
4. Educate yourself about your loved one’s condition and how to communicate effectively with doctors.
5. There’s a difference between caring and doing. Be open to technologies and ideas that promote your loved one’s independence.
6. Trust your instincts. Most of the time they’ll lead you in the right direction.
7. It’s one day at a time, but you do need to prepare for the future.
8. Grieve for your losses, and then allow yourself to dream new dreams. Memories are great, but there are still new ones to create.
9. Stand up for your rights as a caregiver and a citizen. Seek support from other caregivers. There is great strength in knowing that you are not alone.
10. Caregivers often do a lot of lifting and shifting. Stretch, transfer properly—be good to your back.
    

(It's really hard to stop at 10!) "Fun" may look different now, but it’s still out there ... find it!
Dance, sing, be goofy, color a picture ... you'll be amazed at the things that make your