Being a good caregiver doesn’t mean you have to take on all the caregiving responsibilities by yourself, and yet, so many think that asking for help makes them appear weak and disorganized. On the contrary – when you need it, asking for help as a caregiver helps make you a better caregiver.
Take this quiz to learn how good you are at asking for caregiver help!
You’re someone that takes on a lot, and by feeling responsible for so many things, this can lead you to a place of stress. This can make it difficult for you as a caregiver, because it takes a lot of work and mental energy to handle everything on your own. When you’re someone who has a hard time asking for help, you may even be turning away help when it is offered. That is a good first step - try to share more with your close friends and family, and if they offer assistance, be sure to accept it. Be specific when when deciding on tasks where they can help, and have them take on specific tasks you are confident they can handle.
Read Advocating for yourself as a family caregiver for practical advice on asking for help from your family and friends.
At Elizz, we provide caregiver support for you and home care services for those who depend on you. Elizz is a Canadian company powered by Saint Elizabeth, a national not-for-profit health care organization that has been caring for Canadians since 1908.
This quiz is not based on scientific fact. If you need in-home care services for the person in your care or virtual caregiver support for yourself, please call us at 1-855-275-3549 and our Care Solutions Team will be happy to assist you.
You have a good sense of where you’d like to be, but aren’t quite sure how to get there. Try making a list of friends and family and how they could be of assistance to you. Thinking this through can help you identify ways that they can help you that you hadn’t previously thought of.
Learn how to ask for help and create a caregiving team.
You’re doing a good job of asking for help and sharing with your friends and family, which is awesome! If you’re still finding that you could use help with keeping everything organized, try making a list of the various people you have that can help you and their areas of strength or expertise. When you’re in a place where you’re managing well, it’s a great time to plan for the future to make sure your supports are ready for whatever the future brings.
Now that you’ve got your caregiving responsibilities under control, learn how to keep caregiver stress away with tips from our article, How self-awareness can help with caregiver stress management.
