When you’re caring for a relative or friend with arthritis it can be stressful, exhausting and expensive. But you’re not alone. According to the 2003 National Alliance for Caregiving/AARP National Caregiver survey, over 44 million Americans are caring for someone with a chronic illness in their home or other setting.

If you’ve never been a caregiver before, there’s a steep learning curve. You need as much information as possible to be able to give better care — and to lighten the load on you. Get a head start with these tips:

  • Find out what your loved one needs. As the National Family Caregivers Association puts it, there’s a difference between caring and doing. Many people receiving care still want to be self-sufficient as much as possible. Instead of rushing in and taking over, ask what you can do to help. This may change from day to day, so be ready to be flexible — you may need to take your loved one to physical therapy, pick up prescriptions, or prepare meals. Keep in mind that by asking what help is needed, you can reduce how much you need to do.

  • Learn all you can about the disease. There are over 100 types of arthritis with different symptoms and treatments. Understanding the disease your loved one has helps you relate better to what he’s experiencing. You’ll become more familiar with treatments so you can give more effective care. For instance, sometimes a person with a chronic illness may put on a brave face. But if you’re familiar with the signs of a flare, for example, you can be of more help.

  • Do a home safety check. Arthritis makes it difficult to perform daily activities such as walking or bathing. Do an assessment of your loved one’s home to see where improvements can be made to make her life easier. This could include securing handrails along stairs, installing grab bars in the shower, or making sure that wheelchair ramps are in good order. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a detailed home safety checklist.

  • • Get training. In a caregiver course you can learn how to assist your loved one with activities such as bathing, dressing, and range-of-motion exercises. You’ll learn how to work with medical and legal professionals, or how to become an advocate for your loved one. You’ll also find out how to access financial, government and community resources to assist you in your caregiving role.

  • Keep medical records. A chronic illness like arthritis requires significant medical treatment. An up-to-date medical record is essential. You and your loved one can track important info such as appointments, medication dosages and changes, physical therapy exercises, alternative treatments and contact info for health professionals. You can also note the outcome of treatments such as drug reactions, or the results of medical tests.

  • Do the paper work. Ask your loved one about insurance or other financial assistance they receive so you know what medical treatment is covered. Make notes of key contacts at the insurance company and any info they give to you regarding your loved one’s care. In some cases, if your loved one is too weak to make medical decisions, you may also need a power of attorney to make those decisions for her.

  • Find resources to help you. The Family Caregiving Alliance recommends looking for resources before you become overwhelmed. There are many agencies and organizations that can assist you with information on arthritis, support groups, financial programs, health professionals, and legal issues. Many resources are available online, but also at the hospital or doctor’s office.

  • Get paid, if you can. Caregiving takes a financial toll as you may need to take time off from work, or accept jobs that don’t carry benefits. Some financial programs exist that can help you. For instance, Medicaid has a Cash and Counseling program for some states that may pay family caregivers directly.

  • Ask for help. Burnout is quite common for caregivers. Don’t try to do it all yourself. Get other relatives or friends involved. Take advantage of community services, such as an adult day service. Or consider hiring caregiving help for a few hours each week. Sharing the load and taking frequent breaks reduces the likelihood that you’ll fall victim to injury, or depression or another illness.

  • Take care of your health. According to research from the American Journal of Public Health a caregiver is six times more likely to suffer from depression or anxiety than a non-caregiver. Another study shows that one in eight caregivers suffers injuries related to their caregiving role.


Sources:
Journal: Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Volume 102, Issue 6, Pages 831-836, 2002
Study Name: Family caregiver training is needed to improve outcomes for older adults using home care technologies
Website: http://www.adajournal.org/article/S0002-8223(02)90185-9/abstract
Authors: Heidi J. Silver, PhD, RD, Nancy S. Wellman, PhD, FADA

Journal: The Gerontologist, 2005
Study Name: Training Community Consultants to Help Family Members Improve Dementia Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Website: http://gerontologist.gerontologyjournals.org/cgi/content/full/45/6/802
Author(s): Linda Teri, PhD1, Susan M. McCurry, PhD1, Rebecca Logsdon, PhD1 and Laura E. Gibbons, PhD

Journal: American Journal of Public Health 92:305-1311,2002
Study Name: Reverberation of family illness: A longitudinal assessment of informal caregiver and mental health status in the nurses' health study. American Journal of Public Health
Website: http://www.psychologymatters.org/caregiving.html
Authors: Cannuscio, C.C., C. Jones, I. Kawachi, G.A. Colditz, L. Berkman and E. Rimm

Journal: N/A
Date of Study: Conducted in 2003, Published April 2004
Study Name: Caregiving in the U.S.
Website: http://www.caregiving.org/data/04finalreport.pdf
Author(s): National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP