Welcome to our fifth issue of our newsletter which helps libraries share resources for those who care for a family member.
This month, we focus on supporting family caregivers through their stressful days. According to our research, family caregivers rate their stress at 4.13 on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being the most stressed. When we asked about the source of their stress, 71% of survey respondents say that they miss their lives. Our caregiving responsibilities take time away from the activities, relationships and hobbies we love. What can help family caregivers create more time in their day?
You are welcome to copy and paste any or all of the content of this newsletter on your library website. Please also feel free to share this newsletter with colleagues and friends who may benefit. (Note: We refer to individuals who care for a family member as family caregivers. We refer to the individual receiving care as caree.)
Our curated list of resources takes into account what can help give family caregivers more time. Denise M. Brown, who began working with family caregivers in 1990 and caring for her parents in 2004, creates our list.
Apps
Apps can make it easier for family caregivers to request help including:
CircleOf gives family caregivers the power to organize, collaborate, and ask for extra help.
Family Proud connects people who care to people in need to give support that matters.
ianacare helps family caregivers create their personal social circles to request help as well as offers a directory of resources.
Books
These books can help with stress management strategies and provide comfort:
The Self Care Prescription: Powerful Solutions to Manage Stress, Reduce Anxiety & Increase Wellbeing by Robyn Gobin PhD. “The Self Care Prescription empowers you to find balance and purpose in your relationships, work, and life. From creating a plan to spend more time with family and friends, to zeroing-in on a career that you can feel good about, the book will help you create a personalized self care plan. You’ll also learn actionable techniques to fight anxiety, demotivation, or whatever else is holding you back from building the life you want to live.”
The Stress Book: Forty-Plus Ways to Manage Stress & Enjoy Your Life by D Terrence Foster, MD. “The Stress Book takes a comprehensive approach to stress management & prevention and how modifying our lifestyle and taking practical steps can significantly reduce the stress level we are experiencing. More than forty approaches to stress reduction management & prevention are covered in this book, giving you an in-depth framework applicable to most lives issues and circumstances.”
Take Back Your Life: A Caregiver's Guide to Finding Freedom in the Midst of Overwhelm by Loren Gelberg-Goff. “In Take Back your Life: A Caregiver'sGuide to Finding Freedom in the Midst of Overwhelm, psychotherapist, hypnotherapist and experienced family caregiver Loren Gelberg-Goff shows you exactly how to get back to having a life, feel that loving connection you thought was gone, stop arguing and get cooperation from your siblings and others, and and discover other resources you can call upon to guarantee that much-needed ‘you time’."
Events
CareCon Archive: CareCon, which took place on Feb. 18, 2022, educates, inspires, and empowers Alzheimer's and dementia family caregivers with support, knowledge, and community. Any family caregiver will find value in sessions available in the Caring for Caregivers track.
Strategies
Caring Our Way, our community on Mighty Networks, features free courses to help family caregivers create strategies to manage their stress and find time:
The Daily Recovery Plan: Put a plan in place for recovery after a tough day, a crisis or a stressful situation.
Embracing Enough: Feel better about being enough as well as saying “Enough" to what you don’t want or need.
Three-Word Journaling: Write and release. Our three-word prompts will fill your journal pages.
Support
Facebook groups offer support those who care, including:
Caring Our Way also features Your Caregiving Department where family caregivers can pose questions and receive support from Certified Caregiving Consultants.