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5 Reasons to Look for a Support Group Sooner Rather Than Later

Posted: 3/18/2019 8:00 AM by Interim HealthCare
You're tired and frustrated. You want to manage your mom's senior care needs, but it's exhausting you. You've only been caring for her for a few weeks and can't imagine continuing on for months or years -- yet of course you want to take the best possible care of your loved one.

Stop and join a support group now. Here are five (5) good reasons why you need to do it as soon as possible:

1. You'll Make Friends

When you're a caregiver, it's easy to become distant from your former friends. They don't understand why you're so busy. Eventually, they may stop including you in activities or group outings.

With a support group, you'll make new friends who understand your time constraints and many of the struggles you're enduring. You'll have people to meet up with when you do have a break. You'll have others you can text or call for support. They'll be there to provide a shoulder to lean on, ask questions, and share frustrations.

2. You'll Need to Vent

Speaking of frustrations, sometimes, care is disheartening. You may feel ready to quit or mentally and physically exhausted, but you'll also know it's not possible to quit on your loved one.

When you have a support group, you can vent your frustratiosn and gain the support you need to keep offering care to your loved one. Other members of the group may have useful tips or stories of their own experiences to help you through the rough patches.

3. You'll Gain Tips for Future Care Issues

You're new to senior care. Right now, the things you're doing focus more on keeping up with household chores. Eventually, you know that personal care, grooming, and ambulation will be issues. You have no idea how you'll prepare yourself or those aspects of home care. 

When you become part of a support group, you gain the expertise of those who have more experience. You'll have someone for guidance and who can answer your questions.

Local support groups may also invite guest speakers who can give you insight into specific senior care issues. You might have a speaker who is set up to give you a tour of what it feels like to be blind. You might learn effective ways of managing stress.

4. You'll Learn You're Not Alone

Caregiving can feel isolating. You'll feel like you're the only one in the world who knows how it feels. Support groups help you remember that you're not alone, and that others are going through the same things and dealing with the same situations.

5. Support Group Members Can Provide Recommendations

Support group members, because they are in the same situation as yourself, can provide recommendations for products, recipes, tips and even services to help you provide the best care for your loved one. 



Senior Home Care Services Can Ease the Burdens of Caregiving

Joining a support group can provide immeasurable help and relief while you deal with the stress of caring for your senior loved one. Home care services from Interim HealthCare can further alleviate your stress, providing exceptional care for your loved one to augment the care you are providing. Learn more about our senior home care services here, and be sure to visit this page for access to our family caregiver resources.