ALL ARE WELCOME!
Caregivers,
First Care for Yourself
On an airplane, an oxygen mask descends in front of you. What do you do? As we all know, the first rule is to put on your own mask before you assist someone else. Only when we first help ourselves, can we effectively help others. Caring for yourself is one of the most important, and one of the most often forgotten, things that you can do as a caregiver. When your needs are taken care of, the person you care for will benefit also.
With this in mind, we’d like to invite you to join our Caregiver’s Support Group. It is facilitated by Anne Marie Beirne who is a licensed Social Worker. She and the other members of the group can give you comfort and support, as well as some very practical information about services and assistance available in the community and beyond, that you may not be aware of. You will be welcomed by others who truly understand your situation and want to help.
Our next meeting will be on Thursday, October 1, at 7:00 PM in the Sienna Center, 990 Holzheimer Street, Franklin Square. ALL DENOMINATIONS ARE WELCOME! We will meet on the first Thursday of the month, thereafter. For further information, please call Anne Marie at 516-354-6650. We look forward to hearing from you!
Caregiver Self-Advocacy-
Choose to take charge of your life. We fall into caregiving often because of an unexpected event, but somewhere along the line, you need to step back and consciously accept the caregiving role. It can go a long way toward eliminating the feeling of being a victim.
Love, honor and value yourself. Self care isn’t a luxury. It is your right as a human being. Step back and recognize just how extraordinary you are and remember your own good health is the very best gift that you cab give your loved one.
Seek, accept and sometimes demand help. Caregiving, especially at its most intense levels, is definitely more than a one person job. Asking for help is a sign of your strength and and acknowledgement of your abilities and your limitations.
Stand up and be counted. Recognize that caregiving comes on top of being a parent, a child, a spouse. Honor your caregiving role and speak up for your well-deserved recognition and rights. Become your own advocate, both within your own caregiving sphere and beyond.
Contact the National Family Caregivers Association at www.nfcacares.org or call 800-896-3650,