4 Benefits of Caregiver Support Groups
As a caregiver, you likely have days when your responsibilities seem overwhelming. Perhaps you sometimes feel depressed or even angry. You may even feel like you’re alone in what you do for your aging relative. If that’s the case, you may benefit from participating in a caregiver support group. A caregiver support group is a gathering of people who are all facing the challenges of caregiving and need a place to talk about their experiences and receive advice and emotional support. You may be wondering if a caregiver support group is right for you and what you can get out of it. Below are just 4 of the benefits you may receive.
#1: Knowing You’re Not Alone
Caregiver Drexel Hill, PA: 4 Benefits of Caregiver Support Groups
Sometimes just knowing that you are not the only person on the planet going through the challenges of caregiving is helpful. You may feel better knowing that other people have faced some of the same things and found ways to deal with them. It can also be helpful to know that how you feel is normal. It’s okay to have negative thoughts and feelings about being a caregiver. Most people do. It’s not always a pleasant position to be in and it’s hard. Talking to others who also struggle with caregiving can help you to understand that not always liking the role doesn’t mean you don’t love the person you are caring for.
#2: Learning Tips and Tricks
If you’re facing a particular challenge with some aspect of care, bring it up in a caregiver support group. It’s possible, and perhaps even likely, that someone else in the group has had the same problem and has some advice to help you deal with it. Some of the members may be quite experienced and have some handy tricks they are willing to share that simplify some of your regular tasks.
#3: Learn About Your Relative’s Specific Condition
There are many different kinds of caregiver support groups. There are even some groups especially for caregivers of seniors with certain conditions, like Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. Joining one of these groups can help you to learn more about what to expect as the disease progresses. It can also be a way to learn ways to deal with symptoms specific to the disease.
#4: Learn Coping Skills
Caregiver support groups can be a good place to learn how to cope with the situations and emotions you encounter as a caregiver. This can be especially true if the group is led by a trained facilitator, such as a psychologist, social worker, or clergy person.
If you or an aging loved one are considering a Caregiver in Drexel Hill, PA please contact the caring staff at True Direct Home Health Care today.
Sources
https://dailycaring.com/8-benefits-of-caregiver-support-groups/
https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/life-balance/info-2017/support-groups.html
Doc, as he is called by everyone - staff, patients and clients - first experienced home health care and hospice care while as a colleg student at King's College as he cared for his mother every day while she first battled COPD and then lung cancer. It was during this time that he came to understand that caring for a patient was more than just clinical expertise.
"Admittedly, my strongest attribute is my communication skills and the simple fact that I love to help people. Even the smallest thing you can do for someone really can mean so much to them long term. In fact, it could change them forever. That's what providing quality personal home health care should be all about."
In his spare time, he cooks for homeless shelters and children's music and arts events. He also is highly involved in his local youth sports soccer academy as a coach and Board member.
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