Caregivers provide care for those who are unable to care for themselves. Being a caregiver for a loved one is an extraordinarily demanding role that can be both rewarding and exhausting. It involves shouldering an enormous amount of responsibility which can take a toll mentally and physically. When a friend or family member makes the decision to become a caregiver, it’s our time to care for them.

One of the most important things you can do for a caregiver is to let them know they are not alone. Making check-in calls shows you are thinking of them and provides a safe space for them to vent. Spending all day talking about their loved one can leave them longing to talk about themselves so be prepared to listen actively, openly and without judgement. Giving them the opportunity to freely express their feelings will do them a world of good.

Caregivers always need help and there are a myriad of ways you can pitch in. Start by doing a self-assessment to evaluate what tasks you can take on that work within your schedule. Support comes in all shapes and sizes so nothing you can think of is off the table. If it’s comfortable for you and your friend or family member, doing household chores like running the vacuum or throwing in a load of laundry would be an enormous help. If taking care of things outside the home is more your style, you can run errands or walk the dog. Offering to take on administrative tasks like making doctor appointments or contacting support groups in their area about additional in-home care or transportation options for their loved one is a way you can help from your home.

Speaking of which, scheduling video chats with the loved one will be a joy for them and keep them occupied long enough for your friend or family member to be able to step out of the room and take a breath. A caregiver’s most precious commodity is time, and even a 15-20 minute call will give them that time to enjoy a cup of tea, go for a walk or hop in the shower. You can provide the short self-care breaks they need to rest and recharge.

Providing in-person respite for a couple of hours on a day you’re available could be the kindest thing you could do. Planning a visit that includes bringing lunch or supper will be an extra added treat not only for the caregiver but for the loved one as well. After meal activities like playing cards or board games or looking through photo albums with the loved one is a great way for your friend or family member to go off and enjoy some much needed downtime. Offering to handle transportation duties by taking the loved one to appointments or to meet with friends opens up a chunk of time for the caregiver to be able to do what they need to do for themself.

And let’s remember our healthcare workers who put in long hours caring for the loved ones of others. You can also be the active listener in their lives, the one they can turn to in times of stress or grief. Their heavy workload involves interacting with all kinds of patients and families from all walks of life, and having someone outside their workplace they can unload to can provide much needed emotional relief.

They often work back-to-back shifts which can make it difficult for them to prepare or have access to a good meal. A wonderful way to show healthcare workers that you’re thinking of them is to bring some home cooking to their workplace, or order a delivery of assorted salad and sandwich trays with plenty of healthy and veggie options that they can share with their coworkers. Giving gift cards for their favorite coffee place or specialty store is a thoughtful way to thank them for all that they do.

As you plan your support options, place your focus on how you can ease the stress of the caregivers and healthcare workers in your life. And when you present your plan be sensitive to their needs. Not everything you come up with is going to fit into their schedule or lifestyle so be open to making adjustments and formulating plans in ways that work best for you and them. Just because something you wanted to do is not what is needed at this time doesn’t mean your effort is not appreciated. In fact, showing that you care and are willing to help could be the greatest service you can offer.

 

If you, someone you know or someone you work with is a caregiver or a healthcare worker, everybody’s in a situation where they could use additional support. For information about how you can keep on track with self-care while caring for others by working with a member of the RCNY Mental Health Coach team, call Cindy at 631-921-4085 to have a confidential conversation about how we can help or reach out to her directly via email here.

Whatever stage of mental health recovery you are in, whatever level of support you need, a member of The Recovery Coach NY team can guide you through assessing your strengths and developing goals for next steps. The Recovery Coach NY honors all paths of recovery with years of experience and a vast array of resources that can support those in need find the way to the life of joy and purpose they deserve. We come with an empathetic ear and solution-oriented actions that can begin to bring the relief you and your loved one seek.

We provide Recovery Coaching, Mental Health Support & Coaching, Sobriety & Mental Health Companionship, Executive Function & Accountability Coaching, Academic Coaching & Scholastic Support, Safe Transport, Case Management, Psychedelic Integration Coaching, Intervention and Emergency Services. For more information and additional services, go to our website.