Oct 1, 2016
How important is it that a
caregiver practice healthy self care? Consider these
statistics. 80% of care provided to hospice patients is provided by
unpaid caregivers (typically, family members). 17.9 billion hours
of unpaid care is provided annually for Alzheimers patients alone.
34% of those unpaid caregivers are over 65 years old, and 1 in 10
are over 75 years old. Unpaid caregivers provide care on an average
of 43-97 hours per week, and not just during the daytime
hours, but nighttime as well.
The
probability for caregiver burnout is significant.
In
this episode Helen & Jerry discuss the problem of caregiver
burnout, and offer ways for caregivers to provide self care, so
that they can keep providing the best care possible for the
patient.
In this episode we feature the co-authors and website creators of 365CaregivingTips.com. Five authors, Pegi Foulkrod, Gincy Heins, Trish Hughes Kreis, Richard Kreis and Kathy Lowrey are all experienced caregivers. Pegi and Kathy both cared for their husbands before they died, Gincy cares for her husband who was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Richard and Trish care for Trish's disabled brother as well as Richard's mom.
365 Caregiving Tips:
Practical Tips from Everyday Caregivers was the beginning of a series of books created
with the intent of helping others through their caregiving journey.
Their second book, 365
Caregiving Tips: Travel and Respite, Practical Tips from Everyday
Caregivers, is designed
to help those traveling with their loved one or taking a respite
without their loved one.
The
tips found in both books are practical. Caregivers have to
make the most of their limited time, money and energy and these
tips are designed with those limited resources in
mind.
People can read one tip a day, read a chapter
that applies to their situation at that moment, or enjoy them all
at once. The hope of the co-authors is that by sharing these
tips people will have an easier caregiving day, and their load will
be a little lighter. They also want people to know there are
others on this caregiving journey, some who are just beginning and
some who are more experienced, but they are here with you and are
here to help.
Check out these other great websites for
caregiver resources.
Alzheimers Association - alz.org
AARP - aarp.org/home-family/caregiving/
National Alliance for Caregiving - caregiving.org
National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization - caringinfo.org
365 Caregiving Tips - 365caregivingtips.com