Help with Caregiving Responsibilities

What’s a good response to the statement, “Call me if you need me?” Despite the fact that family caregivers are drowning in responsibility or may be confused about what to do next, they find it so hard to ask for help. Even when help is offered, often they respond “no thanks”.

Here are six steps to getting help…

• Recognize that care giving, like any job, is made up of lots of individual tasks, not all of which are of the same importance.

• Recognize that asking for help is a sign of strength and not of weakness.

• Create a list of the tasks that need to get done in any given week.

• Group your tasks into categories such as personal care tasks for your loved one, transportation, household chores.

• Write down your care giving worries. Seeing them in black-and-white helps diffuse some of their emotion.

• Share your lists with someone you trust before you actually reach out for help.

Then take a deep breath and actually ask someone to help with one of the tasks on your list, or seek guidance in resolving your most persistent worry.