Supporting and connecting with family carers in the course of the holiday season

Do your family members turn to you quickly when medical questions arise? Do you end up putting in your “nurse hat” even if you gather around the vacation table?

Lots of us will soon be sitting across the table with different generations of family and friends celebrating the vacations. For some, this often is the first such meeting in a protracted time and there will likely be so much to make amends for. The vacations are a great time to evaluate everyone’s well-being, especially if there are people in your circle that suffer from chronic illnesses. I do know that because the only nurse in my family, questions often come quickly!

I also belong to the sandwich generation – I bring my very own children into the world while supporting aging relations. I see firsthand the physical and emotional impact on family caregivers. That is definitely overwhelming for your entire family, but I’m particularly concerned in regards to the health and well-being of those providing regular care. As a nurse, I feel fortunate to have the knowledge and skills to be a powerful advocate and source of support.

National Family Caregiver Month

It’s November National Family Caregiver Month and this yr’s theme is #CaregivingHappens. About 14% of American adults provide care to someone 50 years of age or older. When the person is of a certain age or has health problems themselves, that is harder, and caring for somebody with dementia puts caregivers at even greater risk of stress and disease (Health in Aging, 2022).

Signs of caregiver stress

We all know that the care we offer as nurses will not be only for the person patient; our concern extends to families and communities. It is vital that we’re aware of the signs of caregiver stress within the families we look after, in addition to in our own families. These include burnout, self-neglect, alcohol or drug abuse, depression, sleep problems, and financial problems (Ageing Health, 2022).

How nurses can support family caregivers

Providing strategies and resources will profit each family caregivers and the patient. It’s crucial to offer referrals to appropriate areas akin to nursing, home health, physical and occupational therapy, social work, etc. Additionally it is necessary that the patient’s independence is prioritized within the care plan, for instance by implementing safety measures, establishing a each day routine and assessing whether medications are appropriate and appropriate (Hale and Marshall, 2022).

Maintains A Family Caregivers Series to assist nurses provide family caregivers with the tools to oversee the health care of their family members at home. Produced in partnership with AARP’s Public Policy Institute, each article features a fact sheet and links to educational videos for caregivers. They’re all free and I encourage you to make use of them in your practice and share them in the course of the holiday season.

American Geriatrics Society. (2022). Health in Aging: Caregiver Health. https://www.healthinaging.org/az-topic/caregiver-health/basic-facts

Hale, D., and Marshall, K. (2022). Caregiver stress management. , (1), 51. https://doi.org/10.1097/NHH.0000000000001037