November celebrates the supporters during National Family Caregivers Month
Published 6:57 pm Friday, November 9, 2018
National Family Caregivers Month — celebrated each November — is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country.
As you know, for your loved one with an intellectual and developmental disability, most care occurs in the home by an unpaid family member. In fact, two out of every five adults are family caregivers. However, the first rule of taking care of others is to take care of yourself first. Caregiving can be a rewarding experience, but it is also physically and emotionally demanding. The stress of dealing with caregiving responsibilities leads to a higher risk of health issues among the Nation’s 90 million family caregivers. So as a family caregiver, remember to pay attention to your own physical and mental wellness and to get proper rest and nutrition. Only by taking care of yourself can you be strong enough to take care of your loved one. You really do need to “take care to give care!”
10 Tips for Family Caregivers
- Seek support from other caregivers. You are not alone!
- Take care of your own health so that you can be strong enough to take care of your loved one.
- Accept offers of help and suggest specific things people can do to help you.
- Learn how to communicate effectively with doctors.
- Caregiving is hard work so take respite breaks often.
- Watch out for signs of depression and don’t delay in getting professional help when you need it.
- Be open to new technologies that can help you care for your loved one.
- Organize medical information so it’s up to date and easy to find.
- Make sure legal documents are in order.
- Give yourself credit for doing the best you can in one of the toughest jobs there is.
Upcoming Events
- Turkey Twist Dance: Tuesday, Nov. 13
- Mower County Special Olympics and Open Center: Wednesday, Nov. 13
- Bingo: Thursday, Nov. 15
- Movie and Munchies: Friday, Nov. 16
- Community Connections: Great Serengeti Indoor Water Park and Lunch: Saturday, Nov. 17
- Creative Arts: Austin Artworks Center: Tuesday, Nov. 20
View the complete activity calendar at http://bit.ly/2ETIAOn.