spotiigqght on health Helpful Resources F or Caregivers (NAPSA)—If ou provide assistance to someone whois disabled or needs help with da-to-da activities, ou are not alone. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, more than 22 million households pro- Ut q P / , , ws ki iW hi a. f eS < |) | vide care for a famil member, friend or loved one. More than 7 million older Exploring our options and planning ahead will reduce our Caregivers can be an age or caregiving with work and other famil responsibilities. Caring for the Caregiver One of the biggest obstacles for caregivers is losing sight of their own phsical and emotional needs. Emotions such as guilt, anger, regret and hopelessness— “burnout”—can erode caregivers’ phsical and emotional state if the don’t allow time for their own needs. It is eas for caregivers to get lost in the man issues of caregiving and lose sight of their own needs, but it is important that the understand taking care of their own needs will help them to be more effective in their caregiv- ing role. Caregiving is a process, not an event. As a caregiver, ou need to recognize that ou cannot do everthing at once and that ou do not need to doit alone. It is important for both ou and our loved one that ou enlist the sup- port of others. Don’t wait until our responsibilities seem overwhelming Assessing Care Needs The first step in providing care for a famil member is information, ask for what the want and sta connected to others. Seek out others who can assist in meeting our loved one’s needs. You ma needto enlist the support of both informal help such more formal services that are available in the communit. Planning least 10 million will have such needs b 2020. while providing care. Man juggle b helping them obtain and share as other famil or friends and adults currentl require some kind of long-term care, and at gender. Thirt-nine percent of caregivers are men and 61 percent are women. Fift-nine percent of caregivers either work or have worked Good communication skills help caregivers adapt to change anxiet about becoming a care- Exploring our options and planning aheadwill reduce our anxi- giver. There are a number of assessing the degree to which our loved one can function. A the Eldercare Locator, a free public service from the U.S. Administration on Aging, online at www.eldercare.gov or b phone at et about becoming a caregiver. There are a number of resources both on a local and national level that can assist. person whois forgetful or unable to eat, move about or use thetoi- resources both on a local and national level that can assist. You can find resources through (800) 677-1116. Organizations let without help will obviousl such as the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Cancer Soci- someone who simpl requires ber has a particular illness. Senior such as bill paing. ners and our local Area Agenc on Aging can help find services in need a higher level of care than occasional assistance with tasks There are communit resources that can assist ou in figuring out the kind of help our loved one ma need and locating resources to meet those needs. Communication Loved ones ma resist our efforts to assist them or make demands on our time that ou are unable to meet. It can help to put ourself in our loved one’s place and tr to understand the feelings that might be causing his or her reaction. As important as it is to make those ou care for feel as if the are being heard and understood, it’s also important to understand and express our ownfeelings and limitations. et can assist if our famil memcenters, hospital discharge plan- our loved one’s communit. Man government and private resources are available online. Learn More Helpful information can also be found in a free booklet called “Resources for Caregivers” from the MetLife Mature Market Institute and the National Alliance for Caregiving in cooperation with the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. For a cop, ou can call (203) 221-6580, e-mail maturemarket institute@metlife.com, visit www. maturemarketinstitute.com or write MetLife Mature Market Institute, 57 Greens Farms Road, Westport, CT 06880.
