There are four different types of care. What type do you provide as a caregiver?
What do the wife of a hip-replacement patient, the husband of a cancer patient, and the daughter of a COPD patient, have in common with the parents of an autistic child? They are all caregivers providing care to a loved one….
What are examples of the differences?
— Hip replacement surgery is often successful (Temporary)
— Cancer can go into remission, but may reoccur or spread (Serial)
— COPD progresses over time (Progressive)
— Autism is a lifetime disorder (Permanent)
There are different strategies for helping loved ones who need care, depending on the duration and need for care.
1.
Appreciate what your loved one can do on his or her own and find ways to build on those successes, because people who need care often have fewer opportunities to succeed than people who don’t need care
2.
Loved ones who feel capable of providing for themselves tend to be more cooperative when receiving caregiver help, so encourage independence whenever it’s appropriate for your loved one
3.
Approach caregiving in positive ways to avoid the pitfalls of negativity that come with the assumption that needing a caregiver means a loved one is helpless
Every Patient Is Different. What are examples of the differences?
— Cancer patients may share a disease, but the outcome can be different for each type and each stage
— Some cancers are more manageable than others
— Survival rates can vary
The Brain Has Its Own Needs. What are examples of the differences?
— A person who suffers a serious brain trauma may have long-term care needs
— A stroke patient may improve with therapy
— Someone with Alzheimer’s is going to get progressively worse over time
— Someone with a brain disorder may be helped by medication
Caregiving Should Always Be a Cooperative Effort
— Engage your loved one in the planning caregiving as much as possible
— Involve your loved one as much as possible in the care you provide
— Working together as a team puts you on the same page — you’re both invested in a positive outcome
Caregivers Have Needs, Too...
As much as you need to dedicate yourself to providing care for your loved one, you also have to care for yourself.
1.
How you approach caregiving can affect you in positive or negative ways -- always keep a piece of yourself for yourself
2.
Recognize that you are more than “just a caregiver” and appreciate that you have overcome obstacles in order to stay true to yourself while a caregiver
3. Set realistic goals for your own achievements and be proud of your accomplishments in supporting your loved one– reward yourself for that once in a while
There are four types of care that caregivers provide:
Temporary
The most common reasons for people needing temporary care are:
— They have an injury that will heal
— They are recovering from major surgery
— They have a curable illness
Serial
The most common reasons people need serial care are because:
— They have a disease that can go into periodic remission
— They have chronic bouts with an illness, injury, or condition that can flare up
Progressive
The most common reasons for people to need progressive care are:
— They have a progressive disease or disorder
— They are elderly
Permanent
The most common reasons why people need permanent care are:
— They are disabled by injury, disease, or disorder
What are the common issues?
Temporary or Serial Care
— It’s sometimes hard to plan for the duration of the care
— It’s important to gauge when to step forward and when to step back
— You sometimes provide care for a period of time and then resume your normal life, only to have to provide care yet again when health issues require it
Progressive or Permanent Care
— It’s a serious commitment for the caregiver to provide care on a long-term, ongoing basis
— It’s important to understand what your loved one can and can’t do without assistance
— You have to adjust the care to provide for your own needs and goals
Temporary Care Issues
— Temporary care has a beginning and an end, but it’s sometimes hard to know how much help to give and how to give it
— People who need temporary care can become impatient with the limitations they face because they know they are expected to get back to a normal life
Temporary Care Strategies
— Remind yourself that temporary care will end when your loved one is able to resume normal activities
— Help your loved one to focus on what it takes to get back to his or her normal life
— Enable, don’t disable your loved one
Serial Care Issues
— Serial care is repeated periods of temporary care as needed on an ongoing basis
— When your loved one’s health declines, he or she will require care again, so know that can make your loved one very frustrated
— It’s not always easy to predict how long and how much care will be needed
Serial Care Strategies
— Serial caregiving will only be necessary as long as symptoms and limitations warrant
— You will need to plan for current caregiving and for potential caregiving
— Expect the worst, plan for the best
Progressive Care Issues
— Progressive caregiving requires you to provide more care over time
— It can be difficult to determine the need your loved one has for more care, especially if he or she is resistant to becoming more dependent on you
— It’s sometimes hard for both of you to accept that things are going to get worse
Progressive Care Strategies
— Progressive care will escalate, eventually requiring that the caregiver become more involved, so plan ahead and educate yourself on the progressive steps your loved one faces, and know what actions can help
Permanent Care Issues
— Permanent care involves a consistent and/or constant need for care over time
— Once you assess your loved one’s current capabilities and coping mechanisms, things should begin to settle into a routine that is manageable
— It’s hard for caregivers to achieve their own goals without a concerted effort over the long haul, but it’s worth the effort to do it
Permanent Care Strategies
— Permanent caregiving will require your participation on an ongoing basis over time, so you really need to know how much time and energy that will require of you
— You will need to merge your caregiving responsibilities with your own needs and goals, so it may take a while to find the balance for that
— Recognize that you need a long-term support system to help you do long-term care and a way to pay for it