[By Cheryl Culbertson]
Caring for an elderly or infirm member of your family can be an exhausting and challenging experience. For caregivers, it’s not uncommon to feel isolated and alone with the challenge, and to feel guilty about the negative emotions you might have from time to time, about your family member or the situation in general.
With caregiver support groups, you’re not alone. These groups give caregivers an opportunity to talk about their challenges, blow of steam, and discuss the realities of providing at-home care on a day-to-day basis with people who’ve been there.
For busy caregivers who feel financially and emotionally strained, a good caregiver support group can be a lifesaver.
Modern medical advances make it possible for people to live longer than ever. Unfortunately, quality of life doesn’t always keep up with length of life, and paying for skilled in-home care can be impossible for many Americans, since it isn’t covered by Medicare, and long-term care insurance can be extremely expensive.
It’s becoming more and more common for family members to be called upon to provide intermittent, daily, or round-the-clock care for elderly, infirm, or handicapped family members. However, many family members are not trained nurses and are under prepared for the challenge. In addition, many caregivers are also trying to juggle full-time jobs, kids, and lives of their own, and caring for a suddenly needy elder family member can tax resources and time like nothing else, sometimes demanding huge sacrifices.
A caregiver support group can give you a community of people going through the same thing, as well as a wealth of resources to help caregivers get help with specific challenges. Senior centers, hospitals, organizations that focus on specific diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, and even churches run caregiver support groups. To find one, a good place to start may be your local hospital or doctor’s office.
Online support groups for caregivers are also growing in popularity. They’re often ideal for those whose caregiver demands are so great that they have difficulty leaving the house for any length of time. People in this situation often have the greatest need for support, but have the least opportunity to get what they need.
If you feel you could use some support, either online or in person, start with an online search for caregiver support groups in your area. It’s possible that there’s a group of people out there dealing with the same challenges you are, who could offer you comfort, commiseration, advice, and hope.
Caregiver Resources & Support
Today 30 million families provide care for an adult over the age of 50 – a number expected to double in 25 years. If you haven’t begun to talk about creating a care giving plan for the older ones you love with their needs and wishes in mind, now is the time. http://www.elderoptionsoftexas.com/article-spousal-caregiving-for-stroke-survivors.htm http://www.elderoptionsoftexas.com/Services/texas/caregiver-support-groups
Article Source: Support Groups for Caregivers: What They Are and How They Can Help