Caring for the Caregiver
Take Care of Yourself
- Focus on getting relaxing sleep rather than more sleep
- Don't ignore your own physical health
- Don't forget to reserve time to pursue your own interests, activities, and relationships.
- Keep your eating habits balanced- do not fall into a toast-and-tea habit.
- List priorities, decide what to leave undone, and think of ways to make the work easier.
Communicate
- Reach out to support groups, religious advisors, or mental health counselors to learn constructive communication techniques.
- Schedule a regular time for conversation.
- When you visit your own doctor, be sure to explain your caregiving responsibilities, not just your symptoms.
Ask for Help
- Keep a list of jobs that friends could do.
- Ask friends/relatives to stop by on a weekend for a few hours so the caregiver can run errands.
- Use respite care when needed.
*Information gathered from "A Guide for Caregivers" by Tanya Radford. Published by the National MS Society in 2007; The Comfort of Home: Multiple Sclerosis Edition. CareTrust Publications LLC, Portland, OR. 2006. Pg. 156-157; and Momentum magazine: Winter 07-08.
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