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Benefits of having Caregiver Support
While the caregivers are dedicatedly busy providing all kinds of support, they are the ones whose emotional, physical, and psychological health gets overlooked the most.
Research indicates that programs designed to support such caregivers help improve the quality of life for the caregivers. Researchers have also concluded that such support systems for caregivers prevent any delay in the placement of patients in nursing homes and other facilities.
Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health I (REACH I) study conducted by NIH's National Institute on Aging (NIA) and National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) highlighted encouraging approaches that helped decrease burden and depression in caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Different strategies employed in the research (REACH I and II) included
Information sharing
Instructions and guidelines
Role-Playing
Problem-solving
Skills training
Stress-management techniques
So what are the benefits of having caregiver support? Read on to know if you belong to the caregiver community to understand how to keep yourself in the best of spirits and health.
1. Gain additional resources and information
Resources, knowledge, and strategies specific to caring for a chronically-ill individual are essential. A caregiver support group enables you to stay ahead in this regard.
Caregiver support groups cater to general advice and attend to specific health issues such as Alzheimer's and dementia. The participants can get first-hand knowledge and insight into signs and symptoms of a disease and coping strategies that help a caregiver put forward help with affection and dignity.
2. Gather emotional support
Caregiving for a loved one or someone else is rewarding and an overwhelming experience resulting in burnout. Stress and anxiety can tag along while extending care to chronically ill individuals, especially those with mental and physical limitations.
A caregiver support group helps to overcome such burnouts by making room for confiding on a one-to-one basis and in group sessions. Such an emotional outlet is vital for preserving the health and sanity of a caregiver that contributes to enhancing and developing coping skills at advanced levels.
3. Cut back on social isolation
Caregiving is a demanding job. Stress, anxiety, depression, physical exhaustion, social isolation, and even physical health issues can arise from burnout. People in this field have to compromise self-care as they juggle between their personal lives and the life demands of the person they extend their care for.
Caregivers often lose their social connections. Caregiver support groups or other social groups are a way to bridge references and links within the caregiver circle. This can help alleviate stress and anxiety among caregivers to a great extent.
4. Preserves the quality of life
Caring for another person can deplete you in many ways. This can affect one's ability and skills at their caregiving tasks. Support groups for caregivers are a way to invest in one's mental and emotional health with consequent improved physical well-being. This helps to keep a caregiver doing their best in their respective fields.
5. Helps maintain a sense of control and empowerment
Disease and infirmity can bring about unpredictable situations which may be beyond your control. Managing such care can be difficult, and any shortcomings can give rise to guilt or resentment towards oneself. Support for caregivers can help eliminate such negative vibes by allowing acceptance without putting too much pressure on oneself.
6. Achieve better perspective
The most important upshot of support groups for caregivers is that they help you realize you are not alone. This instills a positive outlook, builds morale, and helps you keep at it with your best efforts.
Take home message
They say you cannot pour from an empty cup. The same holds for caregivers. Their well-being is important, not only for their calm and tranquility but also for the people at the receiving end of the extended care. Support for caregivers of any kind cannot be overlooked in any way.
Reach out to Long Life Care Management if you are seeking support for your caregiver team because we are here on standby.