Where are you on the Family Caregiver Spectrum?
Consultations are tailored to where you are on the caregiving journey. Choose your phase below and let’s get started today!
Beginning the Experience
Anticipating
You see a caregiving opportunity on the horizon and anticipate providing assistance to a family member. The average duration of a caregiving role is 4 years and 1 out of 4 caregivers provide care for more than 5 years.
Planning and preparing for a caregiving experience allows you to avoid many of the stressors that come from caregiving. Being prepared offers you the opportunity to live your best life while caring for a family member.
Wading
You are wading in a caregiving experience, getting your feet wet, running errands, and providing other assistance to a family member. Family caregivers spend an average of 24.4 hours per week providing care.
Planning and preparing while beginning a caregiving experience allows you to avoid many of the stressors that come from caregiving. Being prepared offers you the opportunity to live your best life while caring for a family member.
Immersed in the Experience
Drowning
You are immersed in a caregiving experience, struggling to keep your head above water. You may wonder how much longer you can go on this way. Unpaid caregivers, regardless of their employment status, report that positive activities in their daily lives are reduced by 27% as a result of their caregiving responsibilities. This effect is three times greater in their personal lives than in their professional lives.
When you are in the middle of an intense caregiving experience, it is difficult to define your needs in order to find the help you need. Once on solid ground, you will regain a sense of control and the ability to live your life while caring for a family member.
Navigating
You are a seasoned family caregiver. You are comfortable navigating in your role. You are able to find humor in situations that others may not find humorous.
When you have been in the middle of an intense caregiving experience, the focus was on surviving. No longer treading water, you are able to consider your new reality with experienced eyes. Now is the time to live your life while continuing to care for a family member.
Transitioning from the experience
Parting
You have done an amazing job and will now see your role as a family caregiver through to its conclusion. Finding peace in this process will allow you the comfort that comes with knowing your purpose was powerful and meaningful.
It is not easy to stop doing and just be with your family member to whom you devoted much time and care. It can be helpful to talk with someone who can help you think through the words you want to share and to guide you so that you can find peace in the power of simply being present.
Drifting
The role of family caregiver has ended. It’s time to focus on your future. The possibilities bring excitement and paralyzing fear.
You have a void to fill. Taking small steps in the direction of your dreams can lead to a life lived with purpose and meaning.
Theresa Wilbanks, CCC, CCE, CCF is a Certified Caregiving Consultant™, Certified Caregiving Educator™ and Certified Caregiving Facilitator™. Her book Navigating the Caregiver River: A Journey to Sustainable Caregiving will empower you as you face the obstacles and unexpected turns on the caregiver river. Check out the Self-Caregiving Strategies Podcast to learn about the 12 Sustainable Caregiving Strategies and how you can use them to navigate your caregiving journey with confidence.
Contact Theresa for a consultation and coaching session.
Schedule Theresa Wilbanks to speak on caregiving and empower the caregivers in your workplace or community with the 12 Sustainable Caregiving Strategies.
Advice offered is for general information only; please contact your healthcare team, legal or financial advisors to guide your particular situation.