This selfless work caring for a loved one can
be extremely stressful and can eventually take a toll on the
health of the family caregiver, if they don’t make a
conscious effort to take care of themselves. Caregivers
often make sure the individual they care for makes their
doctors’ appointments, eat well and get enough rest while at
the same time neglecting to make their own doctors’
appointments, eat well and get enough rest. Some studies
show that about 30 percent of caregivers die before the
people they care for.
The
stress that often takes a toll on caregivers who try to go
it alone in caring
for their aging loved one is usually threefold: time
constraints and financial constraints. At the event, free
resources will be available to help addresses all these
different types of strain.
By utilizing some of the resources available
in the community to supplement the care they provide and
getting a temporary break when they need it, family
caregivers can care better and longer for their loved one.
Caregivers were
connected with information, services and products that can
provide them with a temporary break from their caregiving
role to help alleviate some of caregiving stress and help
them remain in their caregiving role longer.
Melanie Bunn was the
event’s keynote speaker. She spoke on Changing Caregivers
into Care Partners through Connection, Communication and
Care.
Sometimes all a caregiver needs is a
temporary break from their caregiving duties so they do not
prematurely have to stop giving the care they provide.
There are a variety of ways a temporary break can be
provided. For more information, contact 419-382-0624 or
www.AreaOfficeOnAging.com.
The Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio
(AOoA) helps older adults and their family caregivers live
long, quality, independent lives in its 10 county service
area. The Area Office on Aging provides programs and
services that help younger and more active older adults
remain healthy, active and vibrant for as long as possible,
programs and services that help frail older adults remain as
independent as possible as well as services and programs for
everyone in between.
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