Category: Home Share

We are celebrating Caregivers the whole month of November! This week we are talking about Self-Care. Let’s dive right in.

DIVING IN: What is self-care? You are a caregiver, and the work you do is very important and very rewarding – but it can also mean your own needs get put last on a to-do list that can seem never-ending. Self-care is everything we do for ourselves that makes us feel relaxed, whole, energized, and rejuvenated. It helps us feel ready to take on what’s next (whatever that is!).

DRILLING DOWN: Why choose self-care? Choosing to take care of yourself means you are able to give keep giving care to others – check out this video that talks about why it’s so important!

DIGGING DEEP: Where to start. Start small, even 5 minutes once in a while, and build up from there. What “works” for self-care is completely individual for each of us. Try lots of self-care options to figure out what works for you! Or, “self-share” if connecting with others is what helps you “self-care”! Here are some ideas:

• try a self-care assessment worksheet, self-awareness or self-care journal sheet, or affirmations for caregivers from this website!
• try a self-compassion guided meditation!
• try a self-compassion exercise!
• try a 3-minute care tip video about self-care!
• try treating yourself to a relaxing experience, like an at-home spa night or a relaxation bubble bath!
• try getting outside, at least once a day!

Try anything and everything until you find what works for YOU! Share your favorite experiments with us in the comments!

We are celebrating Caregivers the whole month of November! This week we are talking about Tools & Training. Let’s dive right in.

DIVING IN: What are tools and training? You are a caregiver, and the work you do is very important and very rewarding – but it can also mean you’re faced with changes and have to respond. Tools and training are the things that can help you respond. Tools and training can be anything from workshops and seminars, to articles and books, to videos and panel conversations, to forms and policies, to templates, plans, and checklists, to strategies and techniques…while it’s impossible to list them all in one paragraph, it’s true that, in a digital age, tools and training opportunities are more accessible than every thanks to think internet.

DRILLING DOWN: Why bother with tools and training? Changes can happen fast, whether it’s the needs of the person you support, your personal situation, or the world we live in — as we have seen this year with COVID-19! It can be stressful and feel overwhelming. One piece of advice to help cope with caregiver stress is focusing on the things you can control – like having a plan or developing skills that support you to respond to unexpected changes when they happen. Tools and training help you to feel prepared.

DIGGING DEEP: How to find tools, and get training. Tools and training are more accessible today than ever before. Which resources and opportunities to pick depends on your individual circumstances. We can often help point you in the right direction, if you ask us! Here are a some examples.

TOOLS:

• for supporting people who have multiple sclerosis, dementia, or cancer
• for sleep quality issues and improvement
• for helping identify compassion fatigue and burnout
• for help tracking mood and managing anxiety
• for online safety and teaching internet safety
• for planning and quality of life inspiration
• for a way to self-manage anxiety using an app
• for focusing on quick, 3-minute care tips

TRAINING:

• in putting on and taking off personal protective equipment, wearing a mask, and handwashing
• in behavioural support and nonviolent crisis intervention (we have certified MANDT trainers on staff!)
• in wills, trusts, estate, and future planning
• in psychological health and wellness, and managing fear and anxiety, in the COVID-19 era
• in relationships between social work, stress and burnout
• in mental health communication skills
• in addressing issues such as self-forgiveness, removing psychological blocks to love, resolving major life dilemmas through videos by William P. Ryan (PhD)
• in a variety of caregiver-specific topics through an archive of monthly webinars (going all the way back to 2010!)
• in over 25 topics featured in “side by side” modules to complete with the person you support

Did you know you can access all of Open Future Learning through CCSS? Let us know you’re interested, and we will set you up!

We are celebrating Caregivers the whole month of November! This week we are talking about compassion fatigue. Let’s dive right in.

DIVING IN: What is compassion fatigue? You are a caregiver, and the work you do is very important and very rewarding – but it can also take a toll on you when you are supporting someone who is suffering. The big picture? Compassion fatigue is a set of symptoms and not just one thing that caregivers experience when they provide care to people who are experiencing significant emotional or physical pain and suffering.

DRILLING DOWN: How does compassion fatigue affect caregivers? Sometimes compassion fatigue gets talked about like burnout – but, these are two different things. Last week, we talked about stress and burnout. Check out this video that helps explain the difference between compassion fatigue and burnout:

Compassion fatigue can affect each person differently. You can find more resources adapted from “The Compassion Fatigue Workbook” and a compassion fatigue self-assessment on this website recommended by posAbilities.

DIGGING DEEP: What to do about it! Managing symptoms of compassion fatigue includes seeking support and engaging in authentic, sustainable self-care. This website is dedicated to “self-compassion,” and this website has a list of 9 principles and a page of 9 ideas that can help. Share which ones you think are best in the comments!

We are featuring Caregivers for the whole month of November! You can expect us post about requested topics and issues specific to caregivers. Let’s dive right in.

DIVING IN: Stress and caregiving —You are a caregiver, and the work you do is very important and very rewarding – but it can also be very stressful when the work is never truly “done.” Meet the Frates family, as they talk about some of the challenges of caregiving.

DRILLING DOWN: Risks and burnout — Experiencing stress (emotionally and physically) is common for most caregivers – but did you know there’s also risk factors that make you more likely to experience stress as a caregiver? You can read the full list here, but it includes living with the person you are caring for, being socially isolated, having depression, and experiencing financial difficulties. Even if these factors don’t apply you in a “typical” year, keep in mind that this hasn’t been “a typical year.” You might experience these risk factors this year because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, or these factors might be affecting you more now than they did before. Over time, stress can lead to burnout. Here are some signs of caregiver stress and burnout.

DIGGING DEEP: Taking action — Coping with stress can look different for everyone, but taking action includes acknowledging and talking about stress, recognizing and talking about the risks of burnout, and prioritizing taking care of yourself in an ongoing way. There are also 27 specific coping strategies on this website. Share which ones you think are best in the comments!