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Caregiving involves many challenges.
New skills may need to be mastered.
New ways of relating to a family member may need to be developed.
Tough decisions may need to be made.
Often one of the greatest challenges is taking care of yourself.
Take care of yourself so that you can better care for your loved one.
"THE SANDWICH GENERATION"
These are caregivers who find themselves squeezed in
between caring for younger loved ones such as children, and their elder parents
or other elder family members.
Some common stressers are:
-How do I split my time between my children/family and
my elder loved one?
-How much of my time is too much time in each caregiving role?
-How do I find time for my marriage?
-How do I find time for myself?
-How do I keep the generational peace between my kids and my elder loved one?
-How do I combat my feelings of isolation?
-Guilt, guilt and more guilt for not having enough time to accomplish all
that I "should" be doing.
To counter some
of these stressers, here are a few tips to help along the way:
-Hold a family meeting - discuss the many caregiving
tasks and who can share responsibilities
-Communication - make sure all family members
have a chance to talk about their feelings.
-Ask for Assistance - make a point of picking
up the phone and calling area resources. You may be surprised at who is waiting
to help you.
-Take time to care for yourself - this is not
an act of selfishness, it is actually an act of great giving.
-Take time every day to "check in" with yourself, even if it
is for 10 minutes. Enjoy this time by reading, listening
to music, exercising, or whatever you like to do.
-Remember to laugh at the funny things in life.
-Take time to be "in" your marriage.
-Listen to your body - if your body is telling
you to slow down, or that something is not right, seek medical advice.
For those of you squeezed in the sandwich generation please know that you are not alone and that assistance is often only a telephone call or an internet site away.
--Today's Caregiver Magazine,
Sept-Oct, 2003
When you record or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings
joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.
--Jean Shinoda Bolen
Caregiving teaches us that, however
serious a crisis may be, it can be an invitation to grow in our understanding
of and our appreciation for our lives, our loves and our values, all of which
take on greater meaning in today's world.
--Source: Today's Caregiver Magazine
You Deserve a Break!
Caregiver
Support Groups
1st Monday, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
2nd Tuesday, 12:00-1:30 p.m. (Alzheimer's)
Call 303-651-8414 for details.
See our Caregiver Support page for upcoming caregiving programming you might find interesting!
GO Magazine
Pick up your copy of the Longmont Senior Center's GO
quarterly magazine today! It's your guide to classes, activities and
trips happening through the Longmont Senior Center. Scholarships are
available. There is also a pull-out Resource Guide that will give you information
on local services. Drop by the Longmont Senior Center, 910 Longs Peak Ave.,
or call 303-651-8411 for subscription information. We're your information
and entertainment guide!
PrestigePLUS
We continue to provide opportunities for wellness. You
do not need to be a member of PrestigePLUS to access these services but a
membership will get you additional discounts on some therapeutic services.
Whether you are experiencing illness or simply want to support your wellness,
we have options to help you take ownership of your health. Find out more about
our wellness classes and services by checking out our Wellness
pages. Call 303-651-5080 to schedule an appointment or for more information.
We are located on the East end of the Senior Center. Stop by to chat, get
information or make an appointment.
Please feel free to email us at caregiver.advocate@ci.longmont.co.us or call us at 303-651-8414 for personal assistance. We're here to help!
More answers
are just a click away!
Check out these other Longmont Caregiver web pages!
Alzheimer's
Caregiver Home Page
Long Term Care
Resources/Services
Support
Websites/Books
Please visit our other Longmont Senior Services web pages for details on great programs, classes, resources & services! We've got something for everyone!