“Life is not the way it’s supposed to be, it’s the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.” (Virginia Satir)
    
National Family Caregivers Month (NFC) is celebrated across the USA to draw attention to the many challenges facing family caregivers, advocate for stronger public policy to address family caregiving issues, and raise awareness about community programs that support family caregivers. NFC Month is a time to thank, support, educate, and celebrate more than 50 million family caregivers across the country. NFC can be reached at: www.nfcacares.org.
Whatever road of caregiving you are on; there are common concerns and needs of nearly all caregivers.  Family caregivers need:
•    Strong, swift  problem solving abilities
•    A variety of effective, healthy coping skills
•    The ability to manage the physical and psychological needs of the care recipient
•    The ability to manage the changing relationships within family dynamics
•    Useful and relevant medical, legal and financial information
•    Healthy living styles of nutrition, exercise, rest and appropriate medical attention
•    Strong communication skills and the ability to ask for help
•    A realistic plan for the future

How do I know it may be time to look for help with caregiving?
Here’s a simple test that may help you as a caregiver:
•    I find I can’t get enough rest
•    I don’t have enough time for myself
•    I don’t have time to be with other family members or friends
•    I feel guilty or angry about my situation
•    I have conflict with the person I care for
•    I have conflict with other family members
•    I cry or feel lonely everyday
•    I worry about having enough money to make ends meet
•    I don’t feel I have enough knowledge or experience to provide care

If you responded “usually true” or “most often true”, it may be time to look for help.
During National Family Caregiver Month  we encourage family caregivers to take steps every day to make their lives easier, improve care and raise awareness about the issues that family caregivers face. Some ideas to consider:
•    Educate yourself early on—before a crisis if possible.
•    Don’t be shy about asking for and getting help
•    Don’t try to be super human
•    Establish a balance between your work and caregiving roles
•    Understand that caregiving is usually for the long term
•    Don’t give up your own hobbies and social activities
•    Build caring support networks and healthy relationships
•    Keep in touch with professionals who monitor your loved one’s health
•    Maintain regular check ups and management of your own health needs
•    Obtain and update legal and financial documents
•    Learn and practice creative problem solving techniques
•    Keep in touch with professionals who monitor your loved one’s health

These tips sound simple enough on paper, but may be challenging to actually execute. Being aware of what is required to successfully navigate the road of caregiving is a step in the right direction. There is no “One Road Map” to caregiving that fits every situation. If as a caregiver, you feel you are missing some of these tools, consult with your physician, social worker or a support group. Know that skilled professionals are available to help you evaluate your situation and move forward with an effective plan.  

In our community there are churches, an independent day care center and several senior housing programs that have ongoing caregiver support groups.
See our website for these contacts under “Support Groups” in the main menu.

Eden Prairie Professionals in Aging is a professional networking organization made up of representatives of diverse organizations, all committed to the welfare of seniors in our community. For more information on EPPIA and a list of resources regarding activities in Eden Prairie, please visit our website at www.edenprairieaging.org/.

There are many other websites and books available to help caregivers. Following is a partial list.

Minnesota Senior Federation, www.mnseniors.org
Minnesota Help Info, www.minnesotahelp.info
Caregiver MN, www.caregivermn.org
Arc Greater Twin Cities, www.arcgreatertwincities.org
Minnesota Kinship Caregiver Association, www.mkca.org
Alzheimer’s Association MN-North Dakota chapter, www.alz.org/mnnd
Eldercare Partners, www.eldercarepartners.org

Always on Call: When Illness Turns Families into Caregivers, Carol Levine, 2004
The Caregiving Zone, Peggy Flynn, 2006

Caring for Yourself While Caring for Your Aging Parents: How to Help, How to Survive, Claire Berman, 2006

CPR for Caregivers, Grant Watkins, 2008

Daily Comforts for Caregivers, Pat Samples, 1999

Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s, Joanne Koenig Coste, 2003

Making an Exit, Elinor Fuchs, 2005

My Mother, Your Mother,: Embracing “Slow Medicine,” the Compassionate Approach to Caring for Your Aging Loved Ones, Dennis Mccullough, 2008

The Parent Care Conversation: Six Strategies for Dealing with the Emotional and Financial Challenges of Aging Parents, Dan Taylor, 2006

Share the Care: How to Organize a Group to Care for Someone Who is Seriously Ill, Cappy Capossela, 2004

Taking Care of Parents Who Didn’t Take Care of You: Making Peace with Aging Parents, Eleanor Cade, 2002

To Survive Caregiving: A Daughter’s Experience, a Doctor’s Advice, on Finding Hope, Help and Health, Cheryl E. Woodson, 2007

The Unexpected Caregiver: how boomers can keep mom and dad active, safe and independent, Karl Berit, 2007.

Submitted by EPPIA Members:
Joyce M. Konczyk, Geriatric Care Manager, 612.227.7414
Joanne Bartel, Director of Prairie Adult Care, 612.741.9163
Lisa Schmidtke, Able Deluxe, 952.303.4207