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Wayne Martin, LCSW, BCIAC - Advice for caregivers |
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Michael E. Foster, D.D.S. - Input from a spouse of a patient |
Caregivers
If you are helping someone with facial pain, you need to make time for yourself because often the best supporter is physically and emotionally healthy. In order to do this, you need to do things for yourself, such as: medical checkups, exercise, massage, attend class or lecture, participate in or watch sports activities, continue or start a hobby, read and attend social events (by yourself if necessary). Emotional health can be influenced with positive self-talk, laughter, spiritual guidance or counseling, relaxation therapy, pet therapy, addressing your negative feelings (rejection, resentment) and venting your feelings and frustrations with your supporters.
Assisting those with facial pain may include:
- educating yourself so that you can help the patient make health care decisions
- helping the patient set realistic goals
- lessening a patient’s feelings of guilt and anger
- keeping the physical environment safe if a patient is drowsy or unsteady on feet
- accompanying them to health care practitioner visits to take notes since their memory may be impaired because of medications or due to pain level
- completing paperwork for insurance, legal or job related issues
- running errands
- watching small children or even assisting school age kids with homework
- assisting with cooking, house work, yard work
- monitoring medicine, if needed
- suggesting counseling or that they should talk with doctor, if depression present
Although a relative, friend or co-worker with facial pain may not be able to tell you, your support and understanding are invaluable. Often because of pain or depression, he or she may not actually say how much they appreciate your kindness and your efforts in their behalf. Thank you for caring and for being there.
7 emotional and physical well-being tips for male caregivers
http://www.caregiver.com/articles/general/7_tips_for_male.htm
50 Communication Tips and Techniques for Caregivers
http://www.rncentral.com/nursing-library/careplans/50_communication_tips_for_caregivers
Avoiding Caregiver Burnout
http://www.neurologynow.com/pt/re/neuronow/fulltext.01222928-200703060-00020.htm
Basic Caregiving Guide
http://www.healthcentral.com/caregiver/basic-caregiving-guide.html?ic=4025
Caregiving Resources
http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org/caregiving_resources/
Coping with Holidays as a Caregiver
http://www.caregiver.com/articles/holiday/coping_with_holidays.htm
Long Distance Caregiver
http://www.caregiver.com/articles/caregiver/long_distance_caregiving.htm
Public Health: Caregivers and Pain
Setting Limits to Caregiving
http://www.caregiver.com/articles/caregiver/limits_to_caregiving.htm
Top Ten Ways To Care For Yourself
http://www.caregiver.com/articles/general/top_ways_care_yourself.htm
Organizations
Children of Aging Parents (CAPS)
http://www.caps4caregivers.org
800-227-7294
Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA)
http://www.caregiver.org
800-445-8106
Family Voices, Inc.
http://www.familyvoices.org
888-835-5669
Friends' Health Connection
http://www.48friend.org
800-483-7436
National Alliance for Caregiving
http://www.caregiving.org
National Family Caregivers Association
http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org
800-896-3650
Rosalynn Carter Institute for Human Development (RCI)
http://www.rci.gsw.edu
229-928-1234
Well Spouse Association
http://www.wellspouse.org
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