As America ages, more of us will find ourselves caring for a spouse, parent, other family member or close friend. In fact, family members and friends provide about eighty percent of long-term care in our country today.
The high cost and shortage of trained caregivers, the desire to provide personalized care within the family, and the varied and changing demands of caregiving all mean that more people are learning new skills and making adjustments in personal, family, and work life as a result of caregiving responsibilities.
Anyone interested in learning more about the caregiving journey is invited to attend a free Extension program at noon Tuesday, April 14, at the Ellis County Extension Office meeting room, 601 Main Street. This program will help caregivers learn to manage stress and find resources for assistance. Kathy Lupfer-Nielsen, Post Rock District Extension Agent, will be the guest speaker.
Bring a lunch to enjoy during the program if you wish. Beverages will be provided. A minimum attendance is needed to hold this program, so pre-registration is requested at the Ellis County Extension Office, (785) 628-9430.
Caregiving experiences are just as unique as the people involved. Each caregiver has different needs, feelings, challenges and rewards. And each family member’s relationship with the care receiver is unique, influencing expectations and the overall caregiver experience. Much has been learned about the differences in these experiences as the result of a growing body of research.
For example:
– Men tend to think about and approach caregiving differently than women.
– Husbands and wives differ from adult children or other relatives in what they do to provide care, how they do it, how long they do it, and when they consider letting others help.
– Each of us forms personal expectations of ourselves as caregivers. These expectations are shaped by past experiences and observations, societal rules, our cultural heritage and our own family rules.
– Caregiving can affect us in multiple ways. It can cause changes in physical and emotional health, finances, and time available to participate in other family, social, work, leisure or community activities.
– Caregiving can be stressful at times. Yet, people who perform the same task may have very different experiences. For example, one person might feel very uncomfortable emptying a commode, while someone else may not give it a second thought. Caregivers also experience different types and levels of stress over time.
The caregiving journey involves an identity change process. At some point, the person providing care begins to identify himself or herself as a caregiver in addition to being a wife, a son/daughter or other relationship. The journey is different for each person–-caregivers who are providing assistance for a short period of time may never see themselves as a caregiver, while those providing care for years may see themselves and act more like a caregiver than spouse or adult child.
Join us on Tuesday, April 14, at noon to explore the caregiving journey. A minimum attendance is needed to hold this program, so call the Ellis County Extension Office, (785) 628-9430, to register.