‘It can be isolating’: How caregivers handle the stress and find support

This short article from the Chicago Tribune is about how isolating and
stressful caregiving is.

Some people may recognize the name Denise Brown, who lives in the
Chicago area. She started the website caregiving.com as a result of
her experience caring for her elderly parents.

Denise Brown offers five suggestions for caregivers in the article:

* “If you are struggling, it’s not because you are failing. It’s
because what you’re doing is really hard.”

* If you need help and aren’t sure where to start, reach out to your
doctor, local area agency on aging, a disease-specific
organization…, a social service agency like United Way, or your
employer’s Employee Assistance Program.

* If the doctor you contact can’t offer suggestions, nudge him or her
to create a list of resources.

* Find ways to relax.

* Make self-care a priority. “We have a tendency to think that we’re
not doing enough,” she said. “I think it’s important for us to sit
still for a few minutes every day and know that we are doing enough —
that our work and our caring and our love is enough.”

Here’s a link to the article:

www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/sc-fam-caregiving-support-0911-story.html

Definitely worth reading….

Robin