Caregiver, ask for HELP before it’s too late.
Oftentimes, caregiving families (including mine) dive into crisis mode before they know what they’re getting into. As they dive deeper and deeper, they lose sight of the shoreline. Soon, they come up and gasp for air. Looking around, there’s nothing but shark-filled waters. This is a risky proposition for both the caregiver and the care receiver.
Professionals want to throw out a life-preserver; but, they prefer to get involved earlier, to prevent families from being dragged out to sea.
The problem is we caregivers don’t know to ask for help.
After all, how hard can caregiving be?
But the sharks will soon come circling. Keeping our heads above water will grow harder. We must learn to ask for help before then.
Besides, what’s the point of caregiving if we work ourselves to death and leave our loved ones behind?
Professionals can partner sooner with caregiving families by following the tips below. Besides, it’s much safer to sail through ripples than shark-infested waters.
Professionals, HELP caregivers with these three tips.
First, cast your net and be patient.
Next, click on Ask for Help Before It’s Too Late for the other two tips.
Help caregiving families divert the River of DENIAL before it flows into the Ocean of Despair.
Yes yes yes! When I first started caring for my elderly mother, I thought it could’t be that difficult. I had spent most of my life caring for my children, so how hard could this be? It was much harder than I expected, both physically and emotionally. My mother needed help with everything, but she was’t ready to admit it and giving up her independence caused her a lot of emotional toil, which was taken out on me. Soon, I was drowning in stress and exhaustedness. I should have asked for help, but it was’t until a friend saw how exhausted I was and offered to schedule a respite caregiver and take me out for a girls weekend that I learned how helpful reaching out for and accepting help can be. I went back a much better caregiver and now I take regular breaks for my sanity. Caregivers, please reach out!
Emma, exactly! Step by step we learn how important a bit of respite is for caregivers… and a Girls’ Weekend Away… all the better!
Thank you for emphasizing the importance of asking for help (by reaching out).