For Caregivers
At any time in the last 12 months, has anyone in your household provided unpaid care to a relative or friend 18 years or older to help them care for themselves?
This may include helping with personal needs or household chores. It might be managing a person’s finances, arranging for outside services, or visiting regularly to see how they are doing. This adult need not live with you.
If the answer to this question is “yes,” you are a family caregiver, and you are not alone. In the US, 1 in 5 adults are serving as family or uncompensated caregiver for another adult. You may be thinking, “I am the daughter,” “I am the spouse,” “I am the friend,” of course I am going to take care of my … as though it is no big deal. I have done it for my mother, my husband, and my father and it is a big deal. Family caregiver is one of the toughest, uncompensated, most fulfilling positions most of us will be called upon to do. The average duration of family caregiving is 4.9 years and at the end of the caregiving our care recipient dies, and we transition from caregiver to griever.
Free Resources for Family Caregivers:
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A Grievers Guide To Major Days
Major days, such as holidays, anniversaries, birthdays, and deathiversaries, can be especially difficult and emotional when you have survived the loss of a loved one. Discover ways to make these days easier and deal with any surprises that come up.
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A Guide to Better Sleep for Caregivers & Grievers
Tips and suggestions on how to make sleep more manageable while caring for a seriously ill loved one or grieving a loss.
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Family Caregiver Position Description
A position description to help families and healthcare professionals alike understand what a family caregiver really does (from a former healthcare CEO).
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10 Caregiver Self-Care Tips
Includes: tips on how to get through challenging days, suggestions for when friends and neighbors offer to help, ideas to help calm and energize yourself, and resources to utilize so you don't feel alone (because you're not).
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At Peace Toolkit
The At Peace Toolkit is your guide to being at peace with end of life. This expansive packet walks you through setting up the medical ID on your smartphone, establishing your advance healthcare directives, organizing administrative details, and starting conversations with loved ones.
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Art Journal Prompts
Are you looking for a way to document your experience creatively? "Art Journaling” is just about whatever you want or need it to be. These prompts share some of the methods, concepts and thoughts I have derived from and put into my art journaling.
Here some helpful, trustworthy resources for caregivers and end-of-life preparation:
Antidote.me - Connects patients with potential clinical trials.
Archangels.me - Intensity index so family caregivers can answer a few questions receive objective feedback on just how intense their current situation is.
Best Online Will Services - Article by Caring.com
Caregiver Action Network – Provides a hotline for caregivers 1-855-227-3640 or online chat.
Caregiving.com - Comprehensive resources for family caregivers.
Caregiver Calculator - in seconds learn what your work as a family caregiver is worth$.
Caring.com - Resources for caregivers and end-of-life planning
The Conversation Project – helps people talk with others about their wishes for end-of-life care. Includes a numerous guides for having the conversation with friends and relations.
Conversations to Remember - is a not-for-profit that connects high school and college students with seniors to have conversations and overcome loneliness.
Eldr - professional service takes you from zero to fully end-of-life ready in 8 virtual visits - the accountability, professionalism and encouragement to get your Death Dossier done.
Get Palliative Care – comprehensive palliative care resource including blog, educational materials and directory to palliative care in your community.
The Hospice Heart - books, support, and classes for family caregivers making the transition from life-sustaining care to hospice and end-of-life care. Their 2-hour Master Class for $99 is especially effective for this transition.
National Alliance for Children’s Grief - resources to support children who are grieving
Opencaregiving.com - vast guide to hospices and other concepts of coverage and resources essential to caregiving and end of life. Includes an instant hospice directory by zip code.
SupportNow.org - an all-in-one communication, funding support, task help, and meal contribution and coordination technology that is easy to use and set up for family caregivers and grievers.
Well Spouse Association – provides peer support and education for spousal/partner caregivers.
Wellthy - a care coordination service that helps families organize and support their caregiving
