For New Caregivers
    
By: Gail R Mitchell 



May 25, 2000
If you are new to the caregiving situation,
the Internet can become an incredible 
resource for research, support, 
meeting other caregivers in similar
situations. In truth, just about anything
you can imagine can be found on the
Internet. 

Millions of caregivers who are living with
their loved ones have become isolated,
especially when they are not living
in or near a big city. Their friends
and family usually do not  understand 
what caregiving is about if they
have not experienced it themselves, 
so they tend to back off from socializing 
with the caregiver.  

For caregivers, the Internet has become a 
lifeline to others who understand what you
are going (or about to go) through.

If you come from a well-connected family,
you may find incredible love and support,
however, most caregivers come from
dysfunctional families in some way
and they are able to create new 
extended family through their 
interactions online. For many there 
is a great deal of hardship caused
by other siblings and relatives
who may want to direct or control
you, but will not help out.  

Thus, what lies before you amongst 
thousands of web sites is hope,
information and a wealth of 
opportunities to learn about
diseases and illnesses, medications, 
insurance, legal information, new
medical breakthroughs,  inventive 
medical techniques and procedures
and much more.

Online, you will meet all different types of 
family caregivers as well as professionals. 
While the type of roles may differ for
example some are caring for a loved one
24/7 - twenty-four hrs a day, seven days
a week; some visit their loved ones in a
facility or in their home; many have taken
their loved ones in, and many are
long distance caregivers. Diseases,
situations and experiences all vary 
for each and everyone of you,
however, there are many issues that 
all caregivers share and
through the process of sharing, you can
bond with many others who can understand
what you are going through.  Through
haring so many caregivers begin to forgive, 
grow and heal.

Important things to become aware of in your
new role as a caregiver: 

· Assessing your loved ones need for you
as their primary caregiver for example
health warning signs, ability for loved
one to care for themselves, 
depression, can they function on their own
in society, are they responsible, how is their 
overall attitude, and also their cognitive 
functions.

· Emotions: frustration, fatigue/ stress,
resentment/anger, sadness/grief, guilt,
isolation and satisfaction both for 
yourself and your carerecipient.

· Establish a network of professional care
providers.

· Developing support plans so that you can 
share the care where it is possible.

· Assessing whether your loved one can 
remain at home either in their own home
or with you or if they need to be in a facility 
or in an alternative living situation.

· Learn about housing options.

· Learn good communication skills

· Learn as much as you can about insurance,
financial, and legal information. Create
checklists that you will find in your 
research both on and offline, in
your readings etc.

· Learn how to organize information in all the
different areas you will be researching and
allow yourself sufficient time to do the
research.

· Setting goals for yourself as well as with
your loved one.

· Learn how to make informed decisions for 
your loved one as well as yourself.

· Learn to set boundaries by making a list 
of the tasks you can do and those you are
not capable of doing or just do 
not want to be responsible for.

· Learn how to avoid caregiver burnout.

· Learn how to remain balanced from within 
and have your needs met first so that you
will be able to provide quality care for
your loved one.

· Maintain your self worth, your self-respect, 
and your peace of mind.

Resources here at the Boomers International
Site may be accessed by scrolling your
cursor over the golden age section of the
navigator bar above each page. Check 
under caring for parents, retirement, 
AARP Association, Health, and caregivers.
Under caregiving, you will always find our most
recent editorial, the archives, and more
caregiver links. If you scroll over advice, you 
will find information on Medicare and Social
Security. Under the Spirituality link, you will
find information on online counseling, help
line, and psychology to assist you.

At our affiliate site, Empowering Caregivers,
you will also find a wealth of resources. By
clicking any link to the Empowering Caregivers
site, you will find informative  caregiving 
articles, inspiration, the caregiver of the
month spotlight, the caregiving site
of the month spotlight, journal
exercises to help you process issues 
that you will face as a caregiver, a free
online newsletter  which you may subscribe 
to, a healing circle, Forums/Message boards
where you can communicate  with other 
caregivers, a chat room with scheduled chats, 
suggested readings, a wealth of online and 
offline  resources and much more.

Please feel free to email me at
grm4love@care-givers.com 
at any time with your questions 
and suggestions.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Richest blessings on your journey.

Gail

Related Articles to begin understanding about
your role as a caregiver:



Caregiver's Bill Of Rights



Family Caregivers
Are Given More Than They Can Handle
 

Stress Of Caregiving Affects
Immune System Functioning 


Stress And Burnout


Negative Or Positive Choicest


Caregiver Guilt 


Long Distance Caregiver


How To Set Up A Support System 



Caregiving for Parent or Elderly Person

 
Baby Boomers Fear Talking
To Parents About Death






Boomers' Main Page



Boomers' Caregiver's Archives
 
Gail's Web Site :
Empowering Caregivers 

Welcome to Boomers International.