Monday, March 24, 2014

Caregiving in Crises

Family caregivers are reminded to practice four self-care strategies to keep safe during various caregiving crises. Crises in caregiving can be brought on by things like: • Conditions: Broken hip, blindness, stroke, cancer, a rare disease, or chronic illness • Decisions: Take away car keys, move to assisted living, begin hospice, or remove a breathing tube • Conflicts: Doing enough, doing the right thing, or balancing work and caregiving responsibilities Caregiving crises develop when health conditions change, difficult decisions must be made, or conflicts arise. Overwhelming, they disrupt daily routines, demand a response, and can drastically change lives. As the caregiver, you must find ways to live through caregiving crises. It’s impossible to predict exactly how or when they’ll end. But you can count on anxious moments and debates about what to do. Post-crisis, life is different. Sometimes the changes are minor, sometimes significant. Whatever the outcome, there is always relief when the storm has passed. To stay safe in the storm, practice self-care: • Stay calm. Anxiety, fear, and panic block logical decision making. These emotions are contagious and can raise fears in those around you. Calm yourself by breathing slowly and deeply. Affirm your strength and capacity to handle adversity. Envision positive resolutions. Distract your mind from worry by focusing on topics or activities that aren’t related to the crisis. Do what works best to help you relax. • Create a plan. Don’t waste time and energy focusing on things you don’t control. Identify ways to improve your situation: what you can influence, improve, decrease, or eliminate. When making plans, be specific by defining who will do what. Set a time for each action. Make sure actions are achievable, and assignments are reasonable and within people’s abilities. Get agreement with others on the plan. Then take action and follow up to check progress. • Connect with others. It’s awful to feel alone in a storm or crisis; it’s always easier to bear with the support of others. Discuss the situation and how you feel about it. Ask for, and offer, a helping hand or words of encouragement. Seek advice from experts or from others who have had similar experiences. If you are a caregiver, you will at some point be faced with a crisis – I hope these tips help.

No comments:

Post a Comment