The caregiver's journey
The Main Caregiver's Caregiving Journey: Navigating Their “New Norm”
When a family member needs total care and you are the designated one to provide it, everything changes, often with very little time to prepare.
When the caregiver's journey begins
This is when a family member — maybe a spouse, adult child, parent, or friend — needs total care and you are the designated one to provide it. You may have little knowledge or experience in caregiving, and you may also lack the resources, support, and finances needed to receive support through professional agencies.
When the main caregiver is suddenly put into this role with little time to prepare, and with no training or support, it can consume their life and cause them to neglect their own health.
Who & where
Who are these caregivers, and where can they be found?
These are the main, or primary, caregivers: the people responsible for caring for a spouse, parent, or adult child who needs total care. A large number of main and potential caregivers can be found in hospitals during a patient's transition of care, as well as in these places:
Healthcare facilities
Hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and memory care facilities.
Community organizations
Senior citizens centers, public libraries, community centers, and Area Agencies on Aging.
Support organizations
Family care support groups and disability support organizations.
Faith-based communities
Congregation outreach programs.
Employment & professional settings
Human resources departments, employee assistance programs, workplace wellness programs, and professional associations.
Where else?
Anywhere families gather around a loved one who needs care. Tell us where you see them.
The “new norm”
What happens to the main caregiver after the journey begins?
These situations and questions can arise as a result of their “new norm”:
The sudden responsibility
- Who is going to take care of the patient?
- What does the family need to learn?
- Who will organize the daily routine?
The lack of preparation
- No formal caregiving training
- No established back-up caregivers
- No understanding of how much time and responsibility caregiving requires
The impact on the main caregiver
- Personal health gets neglected
- Work and family responsibilities become difficult
- Rest and personal time disappear
- Exhaustion and burnout begin to develop
The missing support system
Who is helping the main caregiver prepare for this new responsibility before they reach the point of exhaustion?
The missing piece
What does a caregiver need to prevent burnout?
That is why SHS&S created a complete caregiver support and training system, the SHS&S Approach, to help prepare, stabilize, and support the main caregiver before caregiver burnout consumes their whole life. Next, learn more about our Plan of Care training and our Manual, filled with everything the caregiver needs so they can provide quality care without compromising their own health and well-being.
Not sure where to start?
Talk it through with us first. No pressure, just clarity on what support could look like.