Posts tagged 'Informal Caregiver'

Most of us in caregiving roles, whether professionally or out of necessity, know we need to care for ourselves in addition to our clients or loved ones. But how can taking care of ourselves be effortless and enjoyable and not just more work? Caregivers are experts on how to make others feel good, and our wheelhouses are full of knowledge, so why isn’t it easy to apply all those techniques to ourselves? Why isn’t it easy for caregivers to be good self-caregivers as well? And, how can that change?

If anyone tells you that supporting a person with incontinence isn’t stressful, they haven’t had to do it. Personally, I have an adult son who has been incontinent his entire life. When I tell people this, they imagine a paralyzed or bed ridden individual, one who is changed at home, with all the supplies handy, acquiescent and compliant. But that is not the case.

Incontinence is a common condition affecting approximately 13 million Americans (possibly more because many of those living with it may feel shame, embarrassment or anxiety, and do not feel comfortable discussing the topic). It is estimated that the 70% of people with incontinence don’t seek help for their problem. Needing help and being vulnerable is something that is hard to accept for many people, especially those who have played the role of caregiver throughout their lifetime, making it even more difficult to accept care for themselves.

In August 2019, Attends Premier partnered with The Garage Shop on a journey to the Bonneville Salt Flats where stock car driver, Aaron Brown, attempted to break the land speed record in his #6 stock car.

We recently sat down with Tom Mendelsohn from Professional Medical Supply who now carries Attends Premier, the newest product line from the Attends brand.  We wanted to ask him a few questions about how customers are reacting to Attends premier, why they like about the product and what keeps them coming back to the store.

As you age, it’s easy to forget that your parents are aging with you and there will come a time when your roles reverse. The people who have always cared for you - your mom, grandmother or another mother-like figure will, in turn, need you to care for her.

Being a caregiver means juggling a lot of responsibilities. From managing different kinds of medications, scheduling doctor appointments, answering phone calls from concerned loved ones, greeting the hospice nurse, cooking dinner for your care recipient, to keeping the house clean, and perhaps even working a job yourself, you’ve got a lot to keep track of.

I watched my mom care for Grandma in the final months of her life. We had a “baby monitor” set up by Grandma’s bed, and the other one stayed with mom at all times. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that every five minutes I heard my Grandma’s voice through the monitor. “Elizabeth? Elizabeth?” Then, with more urgency. “Elizabeth! Elizabeth!”

Caregivers do a great deal for those in need, often going above and beyond in their duties to help those ailing and injured.  It is because of this selfless quality in caregivers that they tend to overwork themselves, often to the point of exhaustion or even requiring care themselves.