The Complete Caregiver Support Guide - A Reproducible Workbook for Groups and Individuals

Family members, and sometimes close friends, are often called upon to act as caregivers to ill or aged people they care about or for whom they are responsible. Although there are many rewarding outcomes of the time spent between the courageous and dedicated caregiver and the care-receiver*, the caregivers are usually unprepared, untrained and unsupported. The caregivers are also often isolated. These factors can put a huge amount of stress on non-professional or family caregivers. Attending a caregiver support group focusing on specific issues is of great benefit for caregivers. Such groups can include those facilitated by professionals such as social workers, counselors and group facilitators, and those facilitated by lay persons, often themselves caregivers. The intention of Caregiver Support is to provide content for support group facilitators and caregivers that touches on crucial topics. The reproducible handouts and worksheets are designed to provide insights, encourage problem-solving and develop the ability for caregivers to ask for the help they need to stay physically and emotionally healthy, allowing them to continue to be there for their care-receiver. While the book has an emphasis on caregiver support groups, the value of the handouts is the same for both groups and individuals. The individual seeking help in dealing with the stresses of their role as caregiver will find sections or individual handouts that speak to their most pressing needs. After working through them, individuals can discuss their insights with someone they can trust to give useful feedback, as well as family members who are willing to help in ways that will contribute to the caregiver s continued wellbeing. The eight chapters in the book and are briefly described below: Chapter 1. The Caregiver Support Group offers advice on organizing, promoting, preparing for and leading a caregiver support group. Chapter 2. Support Group Openers and Closers includes creative activities to kick-start and effectively close support group meetings. Chapter 3. Self-Care for the Caregiver contains reproducible exercises and handouts prompting participants to come up with strategies for maintaining their own physical and mental health as they care for others. Chapter 4. Communication includes sections on effective communication, how to communicate when the care-receiver is confused or difficult to work with, as well as how to be more empathetic. It concludes with a section on preparing for and having sensitive conversations. Chapter 5. Family/Close Friends Dynamics includes a substantial section giving the caregiver guidance on how to hold family meetings to discuss the care-receiver s current health, finances and end-of-life issues, plus how to ask for what he/she needs to avoid burnout. It also has ideas for handling the holidays and visits to the care-receiver. Chapter 6. Being an Advocate for the Care-Receiver is full of information on what is necessary for effective advocacy, including doctor s visits, crisis preparation and home safety. Chapter 7. Record Keeping supplies reproducible forms that will help the caregiver track expenses, healthcare-related conversations, medications and hospitalizations. The Substitute Caregiver s Form is invaluable for providing the information needed for another to take over in the caregiver s absence, whether for a few hours, a day or a longer period of time. Chapter 8. Resources contains a list of suggested caregiving books and disease/illness national associations.

Ester R.A. Leutenberg has worked in the mental health field for many years as a publisher, author and advocate for those suffering from loss. She personally experienced a devastating loss when her son Mitchell, after struggling with a mental illness for eight years, died by suicide in 1986. Soon after, as a way of both healing and helping others, Ester co-founded Wellness Reproductions & Publishing with her daughter Kathy Khalsa and began developing therapeutic products that help facilitators help their clients. Ester is the co-author of the SEALS series for teen-agers, Life Management Skills series for adults and Meaningful Life Skills for older adults, as well as a variety of other therapeutic card games, board games and posters. Ester has co-written Creating a Healthy Balanced Life, the Mental Health & Life Skills Workbook Series, the Teen Mental Health & Life Skills Workbook Series, the Coping Workbook Series, Motivation, GriefWork ~ Healing from Loss, book, card and poster, The GriefWork Companion, and GriefWork for Teens, all published by Whole Person Associates.

Carroll Morris has been a caregiver for many years, first to her mother and then to her husband, Gary, both of whom were diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. She facilitated her local support group for caregivers of people with Parkinson's for many years and served as the president of the APDA Parkinson's Support Group of Green Valley / Sahuarita in Arizona. Carroll is a presenter on wellness topics, focusing on personal growth and stress management. Her seminars are enriched by her training in hypnotherapy, Rapid Eye Therapy and energy healing techniques. She is the author of fiction and nonfiction books, under the name of Carroll Hofeling Morris.