Caregivers need support
After you learn as much as you can about your loved one’s disease or illness (Tip #1 for Caregivers), remember you’re not alone.
The second tip for caregivers
Find SUPPORT.
Attend support group in person or online.
There are thousands of support groups meeting around the world. Find one that fills your needs and start attending.
Despite my full work schedule, I was juggling my added role of in-home caregiver. Fortunately, much of my work could be done from home. Yet, I felt alone. Desperate for answers, I needed a direct line to someone with all the answers to my questions. Barring that, I began attending a caregiver support group for loved ones with dementia.
My father was diagnosed with dementia with a high probability of Alzheimer’s.
I had no clue what to do.
While learning as much as I could about my father’s dementia (Avadian’s Tip #1 for Caregivers), I gained a second family of caregivers who were having the same experiences I was.
The 10-15 caregivers who attended regularly were at different stages of caregiving. Some were getting started just like me. Others had been caring for their spouse, parent, or neighbor for years. During their weekly updates, I was better able to anticipate the road ahead.
One of the things that strikes me today, nearly twenty years after I became involved with my father’s care, is when today’s caregivers claim there’s little or no information available.
There is no excuse for not knowing,
with all the information available, today.
In the mid- to late-nineties, few people talked about Alzheimer’s, dementia, or caregiving. The stigma of dementia was so great, families felt embarrassed by Alzheimer’s. We still see this in third-world countries. Fortunately, awareness is growing. And like FIV/AIDS in the late ’70s and early ’80s, people grow to understand and fear less.
Plentiful resources are available, today. Find a support group. Start attending. Visit a different one if the first one doesn’t suit your needs. You can find ones that meet online or in person. A Google search for “caregiver for dementia support groups” yields many options. See what comes up for you.
The choice is yours. Remember:
You are not alone.
Others are walking the same road.
Together you will discover better ways of caregiving.
Who knows? These caregivers may end up becoming family. They became mine.
For more information, search for these topics: Alzheimer’s, caregiver, caregiver support, Caregiver TIPS, caregiving, dementia, support group
Good to be reminded that we are not alone. Sometimes we get so caught up in our daily activities with family, work, and caregiving that we forget to ask for help and advice.
I also liked Don’s point about negative feedback from certain folks, online and otherwise.
Thanks Brenda!
Good point, Eric. Thanks for the encouragement.
Excellent advise as always from Brenda. In person support groups are not for everyone as you will find there are many that have no clue how to act with Dementia. I did not at first but gained most of my knowledge by joining a support group on line and my own research. Doctors will just agree and go along with almost whatever you say. Especialy with Lewy Body dementia. BE CAREFUL! There are on line groups that are quite willing to take whatever you say and turn it into a negative. I was a victum of that one group that is just that. They are making money to spend on themselves and not helping many. They will critize you and call Authorities on you if they feel what you say is wrong. Makes no difference to them it is a Confidentail and protected site, supposedly. If anyone wants more information please contact me at mariesmac@verizon.net. I do not want to mention it on here as who knows what they will pull.
Thank you, Don for adding your experience with support groups–in-person and online.
And yes, we all must be cautious with who we communicate with online.
Sometimes, vigilance goes too far and hurts innocent well-intentioned caregivers.