Caregiver Support: How To Be the Best Caregiver For The Ones Who Need You

Caregiving is one of the toughest, emotionally charged and sometimes thankless jobs. Whether you're a caregiver for a loved one or it's your profession, you're serving people who need you and giving so much of yourself- that should be applauded.

You're taking care of someone who's sick, making sure they have their medicines, eat right, sleep, don't sleep, move around, take them to the bathroom, and so many other things. You put your all into taking care of others, but it's SO important to also remember yourself.

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Here are some things you can do to make sure you stay strong and are able to be the best possible caregiver for yourself & your loved one:

Take care of your own health

How often do you forget to eat because you're too focused on getting your loved one to eat? Or spend late nights catching up on chores that have gone to the wayside because you had to do more important things? You have to make a conscious effort to think of your needs too, so you can be strong enough to take care of your loved one.

Find a support group

You are not alone! Seek out other caregivers and lean on each other for support. Most people won't understand what you're going through, but a support group of caregivers just might be able to help. You can check out the private Revive Jewelry Support Group on Facebook by clicking here. 

Accept the help of others

It's always hard to ask for help, but there's absolutely nothing wrong it. Most of your close friends or family would love to help, they just don't know how. Try sending a quick email or text to ask for help when you're feeling overwhelmed. And, if anyone offers to help- take it & give yourself a much needed break.

Watch for signs of depression

You've got to keep an eye on your own mental health and if you start to sense depression, seek professional help right away. This is one of the biggest issues caregivers face and it's important to recognize it so you can get help.

Organize medical information & legal documents

This is an important one. Keeping all these documents in one organized place, such as a file folder with clearly labeled sections, will help you be less stressed and save you time whenever you need to find them.

Some examples of documents you might include are:

• diagnosis
• test results
• doctor information
• patient health history
• medications
• allergies
• insurance information
• living will
• power of attorney for health care and finances 

Make sure you remember to give yourself credit for doing one of the hardest jobs there is. You're making a difference and deserve to be saluted!

***All content on this website, including medical opinions and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.***