Build Your Caregiving Team

So, I’m hoping by now you’ve seen where I’ve been going with these series of posts. I started by exploring why some of us find it so hard to ask for help, then highlighted people in your circle that you might call on to be a part of your caregiving team.

It takes more than one person to care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. It takes a village or a team! There is just no way you can do it all by yourself.

And while I wasn’t great at asking for help, I did learn to accept help when offered. This was facilitated by my willingness to express what was going on at home and what I was struggling with. Luckily, friends, family, neighbors, and a host of others heard and saw me and offered specific help. I accepted their offers reluctantly at first, but more easily as time went on.

I haven’t written specifically about another group of people whom you should count as team members. The doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and social workers that you encounter can be tremendous assets to you. Their knowledge is invaluable as you navigate this journey.

Also included on your team might be police (if wandering is a problem), EMT (if falling is an issue), physical therapy (for ambulation help). You could also count sources of information as part of your team. This might include books, videos, on line chat groups, and blogs.

Consider area public libraries, senior centers, community centers, and YMCAs as resources that could offer your loved one a place to socialize and/or exercise.

So, by now, you have a pretty good idea of who is on your team, and how you might expand it to include some new resources that maybe you hadn’t thought of until now.

Know, too, that your team will shift and change as the needs of your loved one changes as well as the needs and circumstances of some of your team members. This is a flexible team roster!

There will probably be some unexpected members of your team. Treat them gifts!

You will probably be disappointed in some of your team at some point. Maybe you thought you could count on someone, but that wasn’t the case. You just have to move forward and not dwell on it.

Now that you have an idea of who is on your team, I want you to consider all the tasks involved in caring for your loved one. I know, it’s overwhelming! I’ve created a handout that lists possible ideas to include on your task list. I probably haven’t thought of them all, so feel free to add your unique tasks.

I’ve also created a handout listing the team member categories that I’ve discussed.

Now I invite you to merge these two lists, matching tasks with team members. Where are there holes? Are there tasks that you could delegate out? Do you have the best person for each task?

Download Tasks.pdf

Download Team Members.pdf