Caregivers don't forget to care for yourself

Don't forget to care for yourself. Here

are a few tips:

When it comes to their health, caregivers

are less likely than their peers to take steps

to prevent or control chronic disease.

Taking care of your own health will help you

to better care for your loved one longer.

• Be wise – immunize.

o Influenza (flu) vaccine: The

CDC recommends that

caregivers of the elderly get one

each year.

o Pneumococcal vaccination: For

most caregivers, one will last a

lifetime.

o Tetanus booster: Get one every

ten years.

• Don't neglect your health.

o Get a yearly check-up and the

recommended cancer

screenings (mammogram,

cervical screening, etc.).

o Tell your doctor that you are a

caregiver.

o Tell your doctor if you feel

depressed or nervous.

• Take some time each day to do

something for yourself. Read, listen to

music, telephone friends, or exercise.

• Eat healthy foods and do not skip

meals.

• Find caregiver resources in your area

early. You may not need their

information or services now, but you

will have them, when you need them.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Administration on Aging

• Don't be afraid to ask for help. And

don't do it all yourself. Use your

family, friends, or neighbors for

support. Family may help share

caregiving tasks. Friends and

neighbors may help with other

chores.

Caregiving can take a toll on you!

Research suggests that the physical and

emotional demands on caregivers put them

at greater risk for health problems:

• Caregivers are more at risk for

infectious diseases, such as colds

and flu, and chronic diseases, such

heart problems, diabetes, and

cancer.

• Depression is twice as common

among caregivers compared to noncaregivers.

Caregiver Tip Sheet

- 2 - Administration on Aging | Caregiver Tip Sheet Last Updated: 10/2005

AoA recognizes the importance of making information readily available to consumers, professionals, researchers, and

students. Our website provides information for and about older persons, their families, and professionals involved in

aging programs and services. For more information about AoA, please contact: US Dept of Health and Human Services,

Administration on Aging, Washington, DC 20201; phone: (202) 401-4541; fax (202) 357-3560; Email:

aoainfo@aoa.gov; or contact our website at: www.aoa.gov

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Help for family caregivers

The National Family Caregiver Support

Program (NFCSP) started in 2000 as part

of the Reauthorization of the Older

Americans Act to help older adults and

their families. Managed by the

Administration on Aging, funds are given to

aging service provider networks in all

states and territories to help family

caregivers with:

• Information about health

conditions, resources and

community-based long-term care

services that might best meet a

family's needs;

• Assistance in securing

appropriate help;

• Counseling, support groups and

caregiver training to help families

make decisions and solve

problems;

• Respite care so that families

and other informal caregivers

can be temporarily relieved from

their caregiving responsibilities;

and

• Supplemental long-term care

services on a limited basis.

This could include home

modifications; incontinence

supplies; a microwave; air

conditioner (for a caregiver with

asthma or allergies); nutritional

supplements; washing machine;

assistive devices, etc.

To access services under the National

Family Caregiver Support Program contact

your nearest Area Agency on Aging. The

ElderCare Locator can help you find the

nearest one. Call 1-800-677-1116 or visit

www.eldercare.gov.

Taking care of our caregivers: November

is National Family Caregivers Month.

During this month we recognize the nearly

44 million Americans who care for their

relatives, friends, and neighbors.

Some facts about family caregivers

• Caregivers supply nearly 257 billion

dollars a year in services for their

loved ones, such as transportation,

supervision, financial management,

feeding, bathing, lifting, and

toileting.

• Caregivers juggle many roles.

Besides assisting a loved one, most

are married or living with a partner,

have a paid job, and care for a child

or another elder.

 

Regards,
Alok Tholiya