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."