Caregiving Support & Resources
FSG’s Senior Program Case Manager, Emily Mysel, LCSW, shares her thoughts on the important role of caregiving.
Caregiving comes in all shapes and sizes. It does not discriminate and can occur during any point of someone’s life. I have observed both my maternal and paternal grandmothers become primary caregivers for each of my grandfathers. As one grandmother learned about the course of Multiple Sclerosis and how to navigate caregiving responsibilities while raising three young children, my other grandmother became a caregiver in her 80’s and provided care for my grandfather who was impacted by Alzheimer’s Disease while she herself was dealing with severe medical issues. Each grandmother dealt with a variety of challenges that greatly affected their lives, the lives of their husbands and their families. They both emotionally struggled through the journey of caregiving, often feeling overwhelmed, scared, and alone. Each were unaware of how becoming a full-time caregiver would affect their emotional, mental, and physical health and felt that asking for help would exhibit failure.
Caregiving involves a vast amount of responsibility. There are approximately 44 million Americans caring for an older family member at any certain time and these caregivers provide 37 billion hours of unpaid “informal” care each year for adult family members and friends (Family Caregiver Alliance). Caring for an aging parent, spouse, or loved one can be emotionally, physically, and financially draining. Caregivers need support. Support services include caregiving and disease education, financial assistance, counseling, respite care, and support groups. When the appropriate level of support is available for caregivers, their loved ones will benefit.
Maybe you’re currently a caregiver or anticipating that you may need to commit to that role in the future. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Am I capable of caring for my loved one by myself? Should I hire additional help inside or outside of the home?
- Who can be part of my support team? Friends? Family?
- How may caregiving affect my physical and emotional health?
- Will I be open to accepting help from others or getting respite when necessary?
- How will caregiving financially impact me and my family? Am I ready to take on the additional costs?
- How may caregiving impact my historical relationship with my loved one?
For more information about caregiving, or if additional support is needed, please call 847-835-5111.