November Is National Family Caregivers Month
The first rule of taking care of others is take care of yourself first. Caregiving can be physically and emotionally demanding. The stress of dealing with caregiving responsibilities leads to a higher risk of health issues among family caregivers. As a family caregiver, remember to pay attention to your own physical and mental health, get your rest and eat well. Only by taking care of yourself can you be strong enough to take care of your loved one. For more information on National Family Caregivers Month, click here.
Tips for Family Caregivers
Caregiving can be a stressful job. It’s not uncommon for caregivers to put themselves last on the list of things to do. Here are some tips to help support you, to support your loved ones:
- You are not alone. Seek support from other caregivers.
- Take care of yourself. You can’t give what you don’t have.
- Accept offers of help from others.
- Communicate effectively with medical team members.
- Take frequent respite breaks.
- Seek professional help for yourself as needed.
- Keep medical information organized, up to date and easy to find.
- Make sure legal documents are in order.
Staying in Touch with your Elders
Many older Americans want to stay in their homes as long as they can. Your loved one’s safety needs to be a priority. Thankfully, there have been technologies created to keep your loved one safe and give you peace of mind. Here are just some examples:
- WellAware Systems: WellAware is a home monitoring system that measures key wellness indicators, such as sleep quality, activity levels, bathroom visits, and other physiological information through an array of wireless sensors and analytical software. When subtle changes become trends, the caregiver is alerted so they may address potential, emergent health conditions more quickly.
- CareAlert Monitoring System: CareAlert™ is used primarily to provide the in-home caregiver with reliable alerts of nighttime activity of the person with Alzheimer’s or autism.
- LightHouse Caregiver Systems: Use any dedicated Internet Connection to communicate with “wireless” sensors throughout the residence. Caregivers can log in to send communications to their loved one, view Activity & Tele-wellness sensor information, and customize the automatic caregiver alerts.
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