Tips for the Caregiver
● Be aware
of the presence of God and nourish your spiritual life.
● Plan ahead. Don’t
wait for a crisis.
● Don’t panic.
● Be creative. If your
first solution doesn’t work, find a new one
and try
again.
● Get reliable information
about your loved one’s illness and be aware of any
emotional issues.
● Learn
about your role as a caregiver and improve your skills.
● Practice
new coping strategies for the particular challenges you face in
caring for your loved one.
● Find your
family’s strengths and work together.
● Accept
offers of informal support from your family, friends, and parish
community.
● Respect
yourself and set limits.
● Take care
of yourself with rest, good nutrition, exercise, and
some time off.
●Access the
formal support of social services in your community.
Follow
the advice of St. Francis of
Assisi
:
“Start
by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible,
and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
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