Did you know that across the nation November is celebrated as National Family Caregivers Awareness Month? Are you the caregiver for a family member? Do you know someone who is a family caregiver? During the month of November, everyone across the nation is invited to celebrate the importance of all family caregivers. Family caregivers provide a tremendous amount of both paid and unpaid care to aging loved ones in Alabama. In fact, across the nation there are over 53 million family caregivers hard at work. We know these family caregivers because they are our family, our friends, and our neighbors.
During this annual celebration we should all take time to recognize these family caregivers. We know that the caregiver’s goal is for the care of his or her loved one, however, as a nation we need to make sure our family caregivers are caring for themselves, as well. While family caregivers may not want to focus on themselves, their health is critical. We would like to share five tips all family caregivers should know and consider implementing in their own lives.
1. Always Take Care of Your Own Health. As mentioned above, one of the biggest challenges facing family caregivers is taking care of themselves. The demands of caring for a dependent loved one can be so strenuous that caregivers often end up putting their loved one’s needs before their own, and as a result, suffer from burnout, exhaustion, and poor mental and physical health. Unfortunately, the outcome is that this hurts both the caregivers and their dependent loved ones.
2. Never Hesitate To Seek Support. All of us need help at one time or another and the same applies to all family caregivers. In fact, it is very important for family caregivers to proactively seek support. For example, you can move closer to family who can help or plan respite breaks to keep a healthy life-caregiving balance or seek guidance from an online care community, taking the initiative to ask for help will only lead to better outcomes.
3. Organizing Medical Information is Vital. Family caregivers should create and maintain a comprehensive file pertaining to their dependent loved one’s medical information. They must be sure it is kept up-to-date and includes important documents regarding medical history, medications, physicians and insurance.
4. Learn to Communicate Effectively with the Medical Community. Successful communication with a dependent loved one’s doctor requires preparation and intent. Make a list of your concerns and questions in advance. Then, speak up, listen and ask follow-up questions. Taking notes will also help you remember important information.
5. Be Sure Legal Documents Are in Order and Up-To-Date. Did you know that family caregivers do not just help with bathing, meal preparation and doctor’s appointments, but they are often in the position of managing a loved one’s finances and legal affairs. Obtaining up-to-date legal documents, like a power of attorney, is the foundation for handling these critical areas. Other important documents might relate to wills and trusts, or the ability to pay bills, navigate insurance policies and secure government benefits. If you or someone you know is a family caregiver in need of legal documents (or updating them), we recommend contacting an experienced Alabama estate planning attorney for guidance
We know this article may raise more questions than it answers. At the end of the day, legal planning is not just for you. Instead, it is for the ones you love most. If we can answer any questions for you on putting this estate planning in place, please do not hesitate to let us know. For more information, please reach out to our office and schedule a time to meet.