What do the parents of an autistic child have in common with the husband of a cancer patient, the daughter of a COPD patient, and the wife of a hip-replacement patient?
— They are all caregivers providing care to a loved one
Different Types of Care
What are examples of the differences?
— Autism is a lifetime disorder
— Cancer can sometimes be managed over time, but may reoccur or spread
— COPD progresses over time
— Hip-replacement surgery is often successful
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 planned caregiving as much as possible
— Involve your loved one as much as possible in the care
— Working together as a team puts you on the same page — you’re both invested in a positive outcome
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
Progressive
The most common reasons for people to need progressive care are:
— They have a progressive disease or disorder
— They are elderly
Serial
The most common reasons people need serial care are because:
— They have a disease that can go into periodic remission
— They have a chronic injury or condition that can flare up
Permanent
The most common reasons why people need permanent care are:
— They are disabled by injury, disease, or disorder
Ups and Downs, Ins and Outs — What are the common issues for these?
Temporary/Serial Care
— It’s hard to plan for the duration of the care
— It’s important to gauge when to step forward and when to step back
— You can 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/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
Strategies in Care
There are different strategies for helping loved ones who need care, depending on the duration of the need for care
— How you approach caregiving can help your loved one in positive or negative ways
— Encourage Independence
— Loved ones who feel capable of providing for themselves tend to be more cooperative when receiving care
— People who need care have fewer opportunities to achieve their goals than people who don’t need care
— Appreciate what your loved one can do alone and find ways to build on those successes
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.
How you approach caregiving can help you affect your own life in positive or negative ways — always keep a piece of yourself for you. Recognize that you are more than just a caregiver. Appreciate that you have to overcome obstacles in order to stay true to yourself while a caregiver. Set realistic goals for your own achievements and be proud of your accomplishments – toot your own horn once in a while.
Temporary Care Issues
— Temporary care has a beginning and an end
— 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 supposed to get back to a normal life
Temporary Care Strategies
— Temporary care will end when your loved one is able to resume normal activities
— Your loved one needs to focus on what it takes to get back to his or her normal life
— Enable, don’t disable your loved one
Progressive Care Issues
— Progressive caregiving is an increasing need for care over time
— It can be difficult to determine the need for more care, especially if a loved one is resistant
— It’s sometimes hard to accept that things are going to get worse, for loved one and caregiver
Progressive Care Strategies
— Progressive care will escalate, requiring that the caregiver become more involved
— You will need to plan for future caregiving, understand the progressive steps your loved one faces, and know what actions can help
Serial Care Issues
— Serial care is repeated periods of temporary care as needed on an ongoing basis
— A return to a need for care 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 symptoms and limitations warrant
— You will need to plan for current caregiving and for potential caregiving
— Expect the worst, plan for the best
Permanent Care Issues
— Permanent care is a consistent need for care over time
— It can be difficult to assess your loved one’s capabilities and to foster independence
— It’s hard for caregivers to achieve their own goals without a concerted effort
Permanent Care Strategies
— Permanent caregiving will require your participation over time
— You will need to merge your caregiving with your own needs and goals
— Recognize that you need a long-term support system to help you do long-term care
Copyright Sara M. Barton 2013-2020