Caring for aging loved ones can be difficult for those primarily responsible for managing their health. A common form of caregiving is done by family members or friends, known as family caregivers.
Family caregivers experience higher rates of health problems and emotional distress (Broxson & Feliciano, 2020). Also, family caregiving is known to increase loneliness and social isolation (Vasileiou et al., 2017).
One of the main solutions for this is connecting family caregivers with peers (Velloze et al., 2022). It is important for caregivers to have someone they can talk to with similar experiences. There are also great opportunities for current family and friend support networks to be engaged to help the primary caregivers and their common aging loved one.
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The support network is a group of people that all want to be involved in and assist with caring for the health of a common loved one. Support networks can include spouses, partners, children, extended family, and friends.
A way to unlock the power of the support network is by more formally identifying who is in an aging loved one’s support network. By identifying who is in the support network, this can reduce some of the psychological stress and questioning of who is available and how they can help.
The Support Network Worksheet makes it easier for you to build a support network for your aging loved one.
Defining your aging loved one’s support network can be done in a few easy steps. The steps involve coming up with a few names, talking to them, and repeating this process.
Also, there is no need to figure out the perfect support network in the first try. A good first draft is more than good enough because it can be easily updated over time.
1. Write down two (2) to four (4) people who care about your aging loved one, including yourself. In the list, write down their relationship to your loved one.
2. Talk to each of these people that are on the support network list. Get the following information:
Now that you’ve created your first version of the support network, take them up on their offers to help support your aging loved one or the family caregiver. This will help reduce some of the strains of caregiving, improve the health of your loved one, and give the members of the support network satisfaction they were able to assist.
Building and using a support network is not only good for the family caregiver but also allows others who care about the aging loved one to contribute meaningfully. By working together, the support network can improve the health and well-being of both the aging loved one and the primary caregiver, creating a more positive caregiving experience for all involved.
This post is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. The information provided is not a substitute for professional healthcare advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
The information provided is not intended to replace the services of trained professionals. Readers are encouraged to consult with their healthcare providers and other qualified healthcare professionals for personalized advice and guidance tailored to their specific situation.
Reliance on any information provided in this post is solely at your own risk. CareKate, LLC assumes no liability or responsibility for any errors, omissions, or discrepancies in the contents of this post.
Broxson, J., & Feliciano, L. (2020). Understanding the Impacts of Caregiver Stress. Professional Case Management, 25(4), 213-219. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCM.0000000000000414
Vasileiou, K., Barnett, J., Barreto, M., Vines, J., Atkinson, M., Lawson, S., & Wilson, M. (2017). Experiences of loneliness associated with being an informal caregiver: A qualitative investigation. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 585. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00585
Velloze, I. G., Jester, D. J., Jeste, D. V., & Mausbach, B. T. (2022). Interventions to reduce loneliness in caregivers: An integrative review of the literature. Psychiatry Research, 311, 114508. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114508
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