To help kick off National Family Caregivers Month, MDA presented a one-hour caregiver webinar titled “Finding Hope, Changing Roles and Caregiver Responsibilities.” The webinar explored the many ways being a caregiver to a loved one with neuromuscular disease or other physical disability can shape relationships, roles and responsibilities.
The webinar was brought to MDA families in partnership with SYNERGY HomeCare, an agency committed to providing the highest quality non-medical home care services. Carla Sutter, SYNERGY HomeCare’s director of operations, led the presentation, which focused on the following topics:
- Controlling the uncontrollable
- Roles of caregiver-partner and significant other
- Continuum of wellness
- Hope in the face of loss
- Maintaining caregiver balance
Some key takeaways from the presentation:
Caregiving can take a toll on both the caregiver and the loved one affected by neuromuscular disease.
A helpful lesson: On an airplane, we are told that if the oxygen masks fall down, you are supposed to secure the mask on yourself before placing it on anyone around you. Taking care of yourself before taking care of the individual for whom you’re caring can be one of the hardest responsibilities for a caregiver.
Sutter shares that we all have a “griefcase,” and that it is OK to grieve the dreams you may have had before becoming a caregiver.
It’s important to accept help from others.
Presenter Carla Sutter is the author of Where Do We Begin: A Guide to Elder Caregiving, geared to families beginning to navigate the continuum of long-term care services.
To learn more about SYNERGY HomeCare, the services they provide and how they support families and clients, call 1-844-6WE-CARE or visit synergyhomecare.com.
For more caregiver-related information and resources, be sure to check out MDA’s Resources for Caregivers page.
This webinar is brought to you by:
