Are You A Baby Boomer and A Family Caregiver?

Are you a baby boomer who is also caring for an aging parent through a local agency who hires family to care for family?

If a tough job trying to balance being a mother, grandmother and now also a caregiver for an aging parent.

You know down inside that it is an honor to have the privilege to be watch over and care for your aging parent as their family caregiver. There will be tough times and precious moments that you can and will cherish forever. It will definitely make a stronger person out of you and you will have a story to tell that you can share and maybe even help one another caregiver, this is why our life as a caregiver can turn out to be positive when at first you see it in a negative way. You will learn a great deal from working as a caregiver and through all the crisis you will learn to depend upon God and to have faith that He will see you through this chapter of your life.

Knowing that you make a difference in your aging family member's life and knowing that your story will help someone else who may be on this same journey. Hang in there!

Here are a few ways to keep your sanity as you try to balance your life between you, your family and your aging parent. I hope these 5 tips help family caregivers today.

1.) Know the resources that are available to you. Find the Department of Aging in your state or area and get a list of resources that they provide for you.

2.) Ask for help. If you don't have family support check with your church or even ask a neighbor. You can't and shouldn't do this all alone.

3.) Talk to the family physician and find out what you are dealing with. I wrote a letter to my mother's doctor and had him write me a letter listing mom's disabilities so I had something in my hand to show others what I was up against.

4.) Pay attention to yourself! VERY important. Keep a healthy diet, exercise (with a friend if possible) and check to see if there is respite care when talking to the Department of Aging.

5.) Find a support group. You cannot and should not take this journey alone. You need to be around others who understand and will share their experiences, strength and hope with you.

I hope these five tips help you in some way. Until next time... As Paul Harvey always said at the end of his program... "And now you know the rest of the story."

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