Stresses and Rewards
“Caregiving was so hard sometimes, but I’m glad that I did it.”
Although caregiving can be very stressful, it can also be rewarding. Your relationship with the person you are caring for may become closer than ever before. However, only by caring for yourself can you meet the challenges of caregiving.
Now that you have noted the information in this website, it’s time to make a plan for yourself. Look back on the notes you've taken and the ideas you checked to help you manage your stress. What is your plan? What can you do first? Write down your Personal Plan and make a commitment to to try a few ideas.
For more information, read:
Caring for Yourself While Caring for Aging Parents by Claire Berman, Henry Holt and Company, 2005.
How to Care for Aging Parents by Virginia Morris, Workman Publishing Company, 1996.
The 36-Hour Day: A Family guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss in Later Life by Nancy Mace and Peter Rabins, Johns Hopkins Press Health Book, 2006.
Caregiving Relationships for People Who Care for Adults
Written by Family Life Educators from University of Illinois Extension and used around the country, this curriculum is designed for agency professionals who provide support to caregivers of adults. It contains 6 discussion guides and 15 related participant brochures intended for duplication. Topics include dealing with emotions, relationships, loss and grief, care of the caregiver, communication skills, and working with agencies and social service professionals. Order at: https://pubsplus.uiuc.edu/C1377.html.
