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Are You a Caregiver for Someone 60 or Older?
You are a Caregiver if you are....
- Performing tasks to help with shopping, cooking, errands, making or receiving telephone
calls, transportation to medical appointments, paying bills, medication management, or home
maintenance and repairs.
- Providing personal care such as bathing, dressing, toileting, feeding or laundry.
- Changing roles and beginning to think of your care receiver as depending on you
for making decisions for them regarding health care, finances, etc.
- Seeking assistance and formal services of others to stay with or provide care for
your care receiver.
- Arranging/coordinating outside services.
- Considering changes in your work or living arrangements such as relocating or
adjusting your work schedule to allow you more time with your care receiver.
- Considering long term care placement such as trying to make a decision about a nursing
home and how involved to be day-by-day.
- Coping with loss and dealing with difficult adjustments in your relationship.
Caregiving can be costly....
- Your relationship with your family may suffer. Your family and friends may feel left out.
- Your physical and mental health may be compromised.
- Your job may not receive all the attention it should.
- Your social life is diminished.
- You may feel you never have a moment to yourself.
- Your coping methods are becoming destructive: overeating, smoking, and drinking.
- Guilt is the most common feeling.
