Where to Turn for Help

I appreciate Christine Scott’s series, Laura’s Story, where first she recalls her sister’s birth and slow development and then the impact of her seizures and her battle with cancer. Sometimes the trials and health concerns seem to be never ending, causing stress and fatigue to the individual and the caregiver. In part three Christine wrote, “Yesterday I asked my mom how she did it and she said, ‘You just have to pull yourself up by the bootstraps and take it one step at a time.’ Then she smiled and added, ‘I’m made of good pioneer stock where the fittest survive.’”

Both statements are true, but what if you’re in a slump and can no longer pull yourself up by the bootstraps? I imagine every caregiver has periods where stress, exhaustion and/or depression set in. If those feelings last for an extended period of time, medical attention may be necessary. Stress and depression are treatable disorders. If you want to help prevent burnout, consider turning to the following resources I found on http://www.webmd.com/women/caregiver-recognizing-burnout?page=3#1 for help with your caregiving:

• Home health services—These agencies provide home health aides and nurses for short-term care, if your loved one is acutely ill. Some agencies provide short-term respite care.
• Adult day care—These programs offer a place for seniors to socialize, engage in a variety of activities, and receive needed medical care and other services.
• Nursing homes or assisted living facilities—These institutions sometimes offer short-term respite stays to provide caregivers a break from their caregiving responsibilities.
• Private care aides—These are professionals who specialize in assessing current needs and coordinating care and services.
• Caregiver support services—These include support groups and other programs that can help caregivers recharge their batteries, meet others coping with similar issues, find more information, and locate additional resources.
• Aging services—Contact your local Agency on Aging or your local chapter of the AARP for services available in your area such as adult day care services, caregiver support groups, and respite care.
• National organizations—Look in a phone directory or search online for local agencies (such as Family Caregiver Alliance), chapters of national organizations dedicated to assisting people with illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease or stroke. These groups can provide resources and information about respite care and support groups.

 What has been your experience with the above suggestions? How do you prevent burnout? Sharing your experiences in the comment box can help another caregiver.

 

How to go From Surviving to Thriving

My daughter, Katie, serves on the conference committee and designed this brilliant image for it. I couldn’t be more please with all the service she gives to the BIAU.

This was the theme for the 2015 Brain Injury Alliance Conference and Alison Delgado’s, is a great example of someone going from surviving to thriving. She was the keynote speaker and her story was inspiring and her advice was excellent:

“For medical personnel:

• Know your patient and their loved ones—it will keep you motivated as you work with them, even on the tough days
• Know their ultimate goals so that you can look beyond your own
• Get their loved ones involved—it will empower both them and the patient

For loved ones:

• Remain positive, even on the tough days and don’t be ashamed to lean on other loved ones-Escalator
• Remember to take care of yourself
• Ask questions, stay involved

Patients:

• Suddenly, everything has changed
• Set goals, work toward them each day, ask for help
• No therapy is beneath you
• It may take days, months, years—but if you keep working, you can always achieve more than what was expected

For Everyone:

• Hope
• Pray
• Love
• Believe in miracles”

2015 BIAU Conference

I loved how straight forward Alison spoke. If you haven’t joined a support group or attended a conference relating to whatever condition you or your loved one is dealing with, I highly recommend it. I’m always trying to learn how to be a better advocate and caregiver. The support groups and conferences provide good information which supports and helps families and individuals. This conference is designed for people with brain injuries, their families, doctors, nurses, therapists, educators, case managers, social workers and other service providers. The icing on the cake which comes from attending the conferences is to have the opportunity to meet people dealing with similar issues and to mingle with people who have helped us with recovery from the past. Some of whom we only see now at the conference. It reminds me of how grateful I am for those health care professionals who not only helped Mark survive, but thrive.