Being a caregiver for someone can be a very exhausting experience. We get so wrapped up in the day-to-day tasks that are included with the responsibilities of caregiving that we forget to take necessary time for ourselves and can thus have difficulty making decisions on our own. Of course, if the person we are caring for has dementia and is a loved one, there will most likely be a certain level of guilt or stress associated with making important decisions for them—especially if you are caring for that person mostly on your own.
Below are two telephone numbers for helpful and compassionate caregiver hotlines to call if you are seeking advice on how to handle a certain situation for the person you are caring for, need feedback on an important decision, or if you just need to talk about your role as a caregiver.
Eldercare Services: The folks at Eldercare are so helpful and can connect you with resources like:
- Finding a caregiver
- Psychology services
- Setting up a caregiver management plan
The Friendship Line is also incredibly supportive. They provide free resources like:
- Crisis intervention
- Well-being checkups – have your loved one receive daily or bi-daily calls to see how they’re doing
- Counseling and bereavement support
Caregiver hotlines are a useful tool that can be beneficial to you and your loved one. I strongly recommend setting up a regular check in system for both yourself and for the person you care for. By having someone place a daily call to your loved one with dementia, this relieves some pressure off of you by adding one more set of eyes and ears on the person you’re caring for. It is also just a comforting and engaging moment of one’s day to receive a call from someone who cares.
Click HERE to read the original article at Eldercareanswers.com