Being a family caregiver is really hard. And with the ups and downs that come along with it, it’s not uncommon to feel frustration, burnout, and even anger. It’s often a thankless job and the people that you help sometimes have no clue just how much sacrifice is involved in the day to day routine of caring for an older loved one.
Like many other aspects of your mental health, being part of a support group can help. People are not meant to go through life alone, and the trials and hardships that we go through are not unique, even if we don’t immediately know anyone else that is going through something similar. There are always other people out there with similar experiences, with similar issues, and with similar needs. Meeting with like-minded people helps to make these stressful experiences a little more manageable.
According to AARP, “a good caregiver support group can be a lifeline.” With that said, there are many things that you might want to be aware of before you choose a group. Who is leading the group? Is it a professional or a peer? Both have certain insight and can help, but in different ways.
Who else is in the group? Making a connection with others is what groups are about–being in the right group with the right people is where the benefit is. This might take some trial and error but is worth noting and exploring.
Technology also helps. If there are no local support groups and you don’t have family or friends nearby that you can lean on, virtual groups can be helpful. Connect with a community on Facebook or another social media platform. The discussions on these pages can be insightful, provide some levity to what might be an otherwise difficult situation, and even give you a laugh now and then. We are not meant to do life alone, even when we might be far removed from the people that we’re closest to. Online chat groups can help bridge this gap and get us connected to others in a similar situation.
Being a caregiver is hard. Know that you don’t need to do it alone. Whatever stage you might find yourself in, there are resources out there that can help make it easier.
If you’re in the beginning stages of looking for outside help when it comes to the care of a loved one, we can help. Paradise In-Home Care is dedicated to connecting families to the best care out there, care that is tailor suited to meet unique needs. We offer a free consultation service geared toward just that. We want to help families without the high pressure sales environment that some other services might employ. It’s a safe place to ask questions, get information, and get a better idea of what exactly it is that your entire family needs to thrive when it comes to senior care needs.
As always, please feel free to reach out to us. You can call or email us any time. One of our caregivers will be honored to help get your family steered in the right direction.
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