Erin Gilmer has experienced caregiving in several roles: to her mother who is disabled, to cancer patients for a volunteer organization, and as a patient advocate. She offers her advice for coping with the stresses of caregiving below:

How do you find the support that you need as a caregiver?

I find support for my caregiving by reaching out to others, whether it’s the nurses at the oncology center, the volunteer organization, colleagues in patient advocacy, or friends. I find that it is helpful to have a wide base of support. If you are leaning on only one person or organization for assistance, that person or organization may run out of energy to help.

What brings you joy in caregiving?

What brings me joy in caregiving is seeing the hope of those who are cared for.

What are the biggest obstacles that you face in caring for your loved one?

The biggest obstacles I find are time and energy. I wish I had all the time in the world to sit next to my mother when she’s in the hospital. I wish I could visit at the oncology center every day. But I have to return to my responsibilities. As for energy, balancing my life and caregiving takes quite a lot of effort. More so, when advocating for someone – whether that means coordinating care or talking to doctors, or finding treatments, or accessing care. That is really the hardest part for me. I love my mother, the friends I’ve met through volunteering, and the people I help as an advocate. But fighting for them can be difficult in our health care system.

What is the most helpful caregiving tip that you could share with another caregiver?

Take care of yourself first. Sleep when the other person sleeps. Eat regularly. Exercise regularly. Find a wide base of support.

You can find out more about Erin at www.gilmerhealthlaw.com or on her blog at www.healthasahumanright.wordpress.com.

Tags: Caregiver Advice, Senior Caregiver, Senior Home Care

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