It is no coincidence that the month of November is not only Thanksgiving, but also National Family Caregivers Month.
Having two very important events in one month, provides us the opportunity to give thanks together with family and friends for all that we are grateful for, as well as the time to honor and thankfamily, friends and colleagues who volunteer their energy to provide care for others.
Volunteer caregivers contribute countless hours of companionship, support for personal needs, and other related services to help loved ones in need of assistance. Very often these humble volunteers never identify themselves as caregivers, and as a result never take advantage of services and support systems available to them to help support all that they do. Caregivers can find their role rewarding and fatiguing, heartwarming or discouraging, all at the same time.
Do you know someone who is a tireless caregiver? If so, help celebrate their contributions and thank them for all that they do to help so many in need. Acknowledge that caregiving can be rewarding, but lonely and stressful as well. Let them know that there are people ready to support them as they navigate all of the highs and lows of helping others. Share with them the gift of these Ten Tips from the Caregiver Action Network (caregiveraction.org):
1. Seek support from other caregivers. You are not alone.
2. Take care of your own health, so you can be strong enough to take care of your loved one.
3. Accept offers of help and suggest specific things people can do to help you.
4. Learn how to communicate effectively with doctors.
5. Caregiving is hard work so take respite breaks often.
6. Watch out for signs of depression and don’t delay getting professional help when you need it.
7. Be open to new technologies to help you care for your loved one.
8. Organize medical information so it’s up to date and easy to find.
9. Make sure legal documents are in order.
10. Give yourself credit for doing the best you can in one of the toughest jobs there is!
We, too, at CarePlus want to take this opportunity to thank all of the family caregivers for giving so much of themselves to care for others. We know this is not an easy job for you and we are here to help you in a variety of ways. Visit CarePlus Resources Here. Please do not hesitate to contact us for support, resources and services at 301-740-8870.
At this time of year, all of us at CarePlus want to wish you and your family a very Happy Healthy Thanksgiving filled with joy, good health and fun!
value every one of our veteran clients and work hard to provide the level of home care that makes their lives and their loved one’s lives easier. With our customized home and nursing care, along with senior and independent living, we can assist veterans and purple heart recipients with top level home care that takes place in the comfort of their own home.
series of discomforts affecting the eyes, skin, muscles, joints, the musculoskeletal system and even the gastrointestinal tract. Juvenile arthritis is known as a pediatric rheumatic disease that describes various types of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions that can affect children under 16 years of age.
the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States.” [1] The sad thing about this statistic is that up to 80 percent of strokes can easily be prevented. How can you prevent this from happening to you or a loved one? Let us first take a look at what a stroke is.
and progressive brain disorder that destroys memory and thinking skills which often leads to the inability to carry out daily tasks. Alzheimer’s disease can range from mild to severe and generally tends to worsen over time. To this day there is no known cure, but you can reduce your risk of cognitive decline by engaging in healthy lifestyle habits.