Caring For Caregivers

October 29, 2024

In Observation of National Care at Home Month, and National Family Caregivers Month, we’re centering on supporting family caregivers. We truly are, “Stronger Together.”

 

Caring for a loved one can be challenging. It’s easy to become so focused on their needs – on being the best caregiver that we can be, that we forget to take care of ourselves. We often focus so intently on giving them the care that they deserve that we neglect our own well-being.

 

Many home caregivers never pause to realize that being the best caregiver we can be requires us to be at our best. We have to take care of ourselves to do that. Here are a few tips to help caregivers stay at the top of their game. We call it Caring for Caregivers

 

1. Acknowledge Your Needs

Recognize that caregiving is challenging and demanding. It’s okay to admit that you need help. Prioritizing self-care will enable you to stay at your best.

 

2. Set Boundaries

Set clear, realistic boundaries around caregiving tasks. Know when to say no, and don’t take on more than you can handle.

 

3. Take Regular Breaks

Schedule time for yourself, even if it’s just a few minutes of quiet time each day. Take breaks to recharge both mentally and physically.

 

4. Ask for and Accept Help

Don’t hesitate to ask family members, friends, or professional services for help. Whether it’s help with caregiving duties or emotional support, allow others to contribute.

 

5. Seek Professional Support

Therapy or support groups for caregivers can be an outlet to express your emotions and find advice or understanding from people in similar situations.

 

6. Stay Socially Connected

Maintain connections with friends and engage in social activities. Isolation can contribute to stress and burnout, so stay in touch with your social network.

 

7. Practice Stress Management

Engage in activities that help you relax, like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises. Any hobby that you enjoy, or even journaling can provide emotional relief.

 

8. Prioritize Physical Health

Don’t neglect your physical health. Exercise regularly, eat nutritious meals, get enough sleep, and go to the doctor when you need to.

 

9. Educate Yourself

Learn about your loved one’s condition so you can better manage it without overwhelming yourself. Understanding an illness can reduce stress and make caregiving more manageable.

 

10. Utilize Respite Care

Find a way to gain respite care; it can be friends, family or professional services. This allows you time to rest, travel, or attend to your own needs without worrying.

 

11. Create a Caregiving Plan

Develop a plan for managing caregiving responsibilities. A schedule or checklist can help you stay organized and prevent feelings of being overwhelmed.

 

12. Focus on Positives

While caregiving can be stressful, try to find moments of joy or satisfaction. Focusing on the positive aspects of your relationship with the person you’re caring for can help keep burnout at bay.

 

Don’t forget to enjoy a few moments as frequently as possible. Feel the sun on your shoulders, appreciate the flowers or songbirds. Have a simple chat with your loved one – recount pleasant memories, laugh together about funny things that happened one day. By taking care of ourselves, we can better care for our loved ones while preserving our own health and well-being.

10 ways to honor the memory of Mom this Mother’s Day

April 28, 2025
Losing a mother is never easy, and Mother’s Day can be an emotional time. Honoring her memory in meaningful ways can bring comfort and keep her spirit alive. Here are ten thoughtful ways to honor the memory of Mom this Mother’s Day: 1. Visit Her Resting Place Spend time at her gravesite or memorial, bringing fresh flowers, her favorite items, or just sitting and reflecting on her love and legacy. 2. Cook Her Favorite Meal Prepare a dish she loved or a recipe she passed down. Sharing a meal in her honor can be a comforting way to feel close to her. 3. Write Her a Letter Express how much you miss her, update her on your life, or share a special memory. Writing can be a powerful way to process emotions and keep her close. 4. Light a Candle in Her Memory Lighting a candle in her honor can be a quiet, reflective way to feel her presence and express your love. 5. Look Through Old Photos & Videos Take time to revisit cherished moments by flipping through photo albums or watching home videos . It’s a beautiful way to celebrate her life and legacy. 6. Do Something She Loved Whether it’s gardening, painting, reading, or taking a walk in nature, engaging in her favorite activities can be a meaningful tribute. 7. Make a Donation in Her Name Give to a charity or cause she cared about . It’s a wonderful way to extend her kindness and make a difference in her honor. 8. Create a Memory Book or Scrapbook Compile photos, letters, and stories into a scrapbook or digital memory book that keeps her spirit alive for future generations. 9. Plant a Tree or Flowers in Her Honor Planting something in her memory can be a lasting tribute, symbolizing growth, love, and the continuation of her legacy. 10. Spend Time with Family & Share Stories Gather with loved ones to reminisce, share stories, and celebrate the love she gave. Keeping her memory alive through storytelling can be healing and uplifting. No matter how you choose to honor your mom, the most important thing is to celebrate the love and impact she had on your life. We hope these 10 ways to honor the memory of Mom this Mother’s Day helps readers celebrate this Mother’s Day. Also read here about surviving the first Mother’s Day without Mom .

12 Important Things To Understand About Hospice

February 27, 2025
Our expert care enriches life by controlling symptoms and managing pain, while also caring for the mind and spirit. Hospice often becomes a choice when you or a loved one is seeking relief from frequent emergency room visits or are physically or emotionally tired of challenging treatments that no longer have a positive impact on life expectancy or quality of life. Serious illness affects more than just a loved one. So, our support extends to family caregivers . We become an extra layer of support by sharing our experience and resources to ensure that you and your loved ones feel prepared by knowing what to expect as illness progresses. We also help you feel less overwhelmed by sharing in some of the responsibilities of the day-to-day care of your loved one. We also understand the worry that comes with serious illness. When a loved one is living with a serious illness, a price can’t be put on peace of mind. Here 12 things that are important to understand about hospice. 1 - Hospice is a philosophy of care that treats a person rather than the disease. Hospice is a complete and cohesive program of medical care and emotional/spiritual support to improve the quality of life for patients facing a life-limiting illness. 2 - When treatment is no longer effective or desired, hospice care can be provided for pain relief and symptom control , along with emotional and spiritual support for patients and loved ones. 3 - Hospice care takes a holistic approach focusing on both physical and emotional health. 4 - In most cases, a family member serves as the primary caregiver and helps make decisions for their loved one. 5 - The caregiver works with our team to develop a plan of care to provide treatment, support, and personal care. 6 - Your physician remains in charge of the overall medical care, we become a part of his team. 7 - Hospice isn’t giving up. It’s finding comfort and dignity after you’ve been told nothing more can be done. 8 - You are free to leave a hospice program at any time for any reason without penalty. You can re-enroll in a hospice program any time that you meet the medical eligibility criteria. 9 - Medications and medical interventions are used regularly to control pain and symptoms. 10 - Hospice patients live an average of 29 days longer than those that do not receive hospice care. 11 - Hospice care is provided anywhere your loved one lives, including private residences, assisted living communities, and long-term care facilities. 12 - Our care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance companies. We understand that choosing to stop curative treatments and begin care and comfort services can be overwhelming. If you have questions like ' is now the right time’ or if you wonder ‘when will the right time be”, you can call and speak to one of our clinical directors. An Ascend nurse or social worker can meet with you and your family members and provide information on all of the services available to you. Once you are ready your physician, our team of nurses, our medical director, and our chaplains, social workers, and aides will be with you and your family on every part of your journey ensuring that your care and comfort are our first priority.