A course called “Powerful Tools for Caregivers” was developed by an organization in Portland. You can read general info about the self-care education program for family caregivers at powerfultoolsforcaregivers.org
As part of the course, class participants receive a copy of a book titled “The Caregiver Helpbook.” The book is available for purchase ($30) in both English and Spanish at powerfultoolsforcaregivers.org
The title of chapter six is “Mastering Caregiving Transitions.” Here are a few excerpts from chapter six:
* “Change is the external situation. … Transition is the internal emotional process we go through to come to terms with what has changed. It’s these feelings that can be particularly difficult.”
* “Change involves not just the beginning of something, but also an ending of what was.”
* “Caregiving changes and decisions are difficult, in part, because they usually lead to some type of loss for the care receiver. And, sometimes for…the caregiver. [They] frequently create powerful feelings of self-doubt and guilt.”
* “Chronic, progressive illness that causes a gradual decline in abilities forces both you and the care receiver to … deal with a succession of changes and losses. [These] losses multiply without the benefit of a ‘wilderness time’ to grieve and come to terms with them.”
Tools to counteract negative thinking are discussed in this chapter.