Being a caregiver is hard, and often signifies a big change in someone’s life. If one of your good friends becomes the family caregiver to an elderly parent or loved one, you’ll probably notice them experiencing stress, overwhelm and a plethora of other emotions.
Naturally, you’ll want to help them as much as you can – but knowing how to support a friend who is a caregiver can be tricky, because they might want help, but be afraid to ask. To help you navigate this challenging time and be the best friend you can be, we’ve put together a list of ways you can offer to support them through their caregiving journey.
How to Help Someone Who Is a Home Caregiver
Even if you can’t assist your friend with their care-related duties, there are plenty of ways you can provide emotional and practical support. Our best advice on how to support a friend who is a caregiver includes:
Just listen. Your friend may need someone to talk to and share the concerns, frustrations or sadness they are experiencing, so allow them to vent their feelings. Depression is very common among family caregivers and they often feel very alone. Listening to them can be the first step in helping them feel less isolated and will help you spot early signs of mental or emotional strain, such as those listed in this article on caregiver burnout vs compassion fatigue.
Offer to be there for whatever they need. Don’t wait for your friend to ask for help. Ask them, “What can I do today to help you?” Helping your friend define what support they need and what specific role you can take on will provide comfort and help them have a more positive caregiving experience.
Help them get organized. For new caregivers especially, it can be a daunting task to know where to start and how to keep daily tasks organized. As a friend, you can help them bring the big picture back into focus. Work alongside them to organize their daily routines into a system that will keep them – and anyone else helping with family caregiver responsibilities – on track.
Give them your time. Many family caregivers feel locked into a whirlwind of daily routines caring for their loved one, and they have no time for themselves. The greatest gift you can give your friend is the gift of time. Offer to sit with their loved one while your caregiver friend takes a well-deserved break, even if it’s just a few hours a week.
Help them with research. When you’re the family caregiver, it can feel like there’s not enough time to do everything. Something like finding appropriate senior-focused services might be the last thing on their “to do” list. A great way to lend a hand is to do some of the legwork for them and find out about any local support services, like FirstLight Home Care, or national schemes that offer financial support for caregivers.
Just be who you are… a friend. Your friend will go through a lot when they become the family caregiver, and they need your friendship now more than ever. The best thing you can do for them is to be a friend. Bring over food, send encouraging notes or texts, take them out for a drink, and don’t exclude them from activities just because they’ve declined past invitations. Many caregivers need time to figure out their “new normal,” and it can take a while to adjust.
Support Your Caregiver Friend With FirstLight
The challenges faced by caregivers are many and varied and often change over time. To better learn how to support a friend who is a caregiver, follow these tips from FirstLight Home Care. Or, if you think your friend could benefit from professional assistance, contact our team today to find out more about our customizable care plan options.
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