Caregivers Information

• There are 25 million caregivers in the United States. 59%-75% of them are women. The average caregiver is a 40 year old working woman earning $36,000 per year.
• One out of four households nationwide is involved in caregiving for someone age 50 or older.
• Family members and friends provide 85% of all home care.
• An estimated 20%-40% of caregivers are raising children while simultaneously caring for older adults.
• Caregiving cuts across age, gender, income, education, class and ethnicity.

Stroke recovery is a lifelong  process filled with accomplishments and setbacks. Caregivers face special challenges including coping with emotional/behavioral changes, learning to accept and address communication difficulties, accepting physical limitations, advocating for rehabilitation and other health services and dealing with changes in the home environment and daily responsibilities. But there are things a caregiver can do to make the transition from hospital to home easier on everyone:

• Try to encourage as much independence as possible- give enough help so your loved one doesn’t become frustrated but not too much so that they become dependent.
• Allow your loved one to participate in making decisions- if possible, allow your loved one to participate in decisions affecting them. They will feel as if they have still have control over their life and this will relieve you of some of the burden of decision making. It also reassures your loved one that they are wanted, needed and still important to the family.
• Support participation in leisure activities- allow your loved one to participate in whatever activities they are safely able to enjoy. This will stimulate their recovery and encourage them to be independent. Praise any successful effort and don’t be discouraged by failures. Recovering from a stroke is often a long process.
• Try to take an occasional break from caregiving- it’s important that you take care of yourself in order to continue to take the best care of your loved one.
• Don’t let the full burden of care fall on one person. Ask for help from family, friends or community organizations- caring for a stroke survivor is a big responsibility. Don’t try to do everything alone. Find the professional help you need to face the challenges of stroke recovery.

What about you?

Caring for a stroke survivor can be a demanding and draining job. Here are some tips to help you take care of yourself while you take care of your loved one:

• If you are a primary caregiver, one of the first things you need to do is think realistically about what you can, cannot or will not do. It is important to know your limitations.
• Taking care of yourself is very important. You need to stay rested, refreshed and energetic both for yourself and your loved one.
• Maintaining your health is critical. That means you need to eat a proper diet, get enough exercise, get the proper amount of sleep and seek prompt medical attention if you become sick.
• Maintaining your emotional health is also important. You may experience a lot of different feelings-anger, guilt, impatience, love and dislike. All of these feelings are normal and common to caregivers and you should not feel guilty. If talking about your feelings helps you, seek support from a close friend, a support group of caregivers, social workers, clergy or counselors.
• Maintain your network of friends. It is important to stay connected to your friends as they can help you handle your responsibilities. Other people can be an important outlet for your feelings of loneliness, sadness and grief. If you neglect your own social needs, your friends may drift away.
• Strengthen yourself emotionally through your spiritual life. Spiritual support can come through prayer, religious services or quiet times and meditation.

St. John's Hospital and Prairie Heart Institute’s Center for Living has many services available to help you take care of yourself.

For additional services available at St. John's Hospital please see Patient Services.

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