week 5-6 Flashcards
What are some diverse examples of family units?
Common family units include
Single-parent households
Co-parenting arrangements
Blended families
Common-law families
Distanced families
Parents who are divorced or separated
Each of which may also include 2LGBTQ+ marriages, relationships, and children.
A term used coined and often used in the Queer community- although the concept is far older
Where people find family within community, friends, neighbours…
Where the relationship is stronger than friendship; it is the intimate and reliable bond that one might get from a family member
CHOSEN FAMILY
What is a caregiver?
A person “who provides help or care to someone with a long-term health condition or a physical or mental disability, or someone with problems related to aging”
What is the difference between an informal caregiver, and a formal caregiver?
Informal caregiver are those who dont have specialized training and are not paid for
while
Formal caregiver are those who received specialized training and are paid for.
What are some tasks currently being asked of informal caregivers?
Substitute Decision Maker Hierarchy
Legally appointed SDMS (Court appointed guardian, attorney for personal care, representative appointed by consent and capacity board)
Automatic family member SDM (Spouse/partner, Parents, children, parent with right access only, siblings, any other relatives)
SDM of last resort (public guardian and trustee)
What are some causes of stress in informal caregivers?
Fear of making a mistake
Inconvenience/requiring constant attention
Fear of hurting a family member
Emotion distress
Lack of knowledge on how to conduct the tasks
What is a tool used to measure Caregiver Burden?
Zarit Burden Inventory
is a self-report, where family care partners rate themselves on a scale from 0-4 on 22 measures.
What are some techniques that you can use when teaching health information?
Bring a Notebook to Appointments:
Encourage caregivers to bring a small notebook to appointments.
They can use it to jot down notes, assessment results, and instructions.
Keeping track of questions between appointments in the notebook is helpful.
Use Written Instructions and Visuals:
When explaining health information, provide written handouts and use visual diagrams or pictures.
This supports verbal instructions and makes it easier to understand.
Hands-On Learning:
Show caregivers how to perform tasks, like taking blood sugar levels.
Encourage them to try it while you watch, promoting practical skill application.
“Teach Back” Method:
After giving instructions, ask caregivers to repeat them back.
This ensures understanding and clarifies any confusion.
Address Questions Comfortably:
Give caregivers time to ask questions.
Ask multiple times and create a judgment-free environment for them to feel safe inquiring.
Provide Resources for Support:
Offer reference materials like YouTube videos, websites, or helplines.
These resources can be valuable for support between appointments.
Clarify Communication Channels:
Clearly explain how caregivers can contact you or your team if needed.
Ensure they know the specific steps for reaching out when necessary.
How else can you support informal care partners with stress?
Offering good health information
Employing a variety of techniques to ensure that health information is understood and retained
Supporting development of self-care
Supporting meaning-focused coping strategies
Focus on Meaning-Focused Coping
Seeing the Positive Side:
They try to look at the situation in a positive way. For example, a caregiver might find joy in knowing they’re providing good care to their family member.
Setting New Goals:
They accept that some goals they had before might not work anymore because of changes in life. So, they come up with new goals that fit their role as a caregiver.
Drawing from Beliefs:
They focus on their personal values and beliefs to find meaning in the situation. This could involve turning to spiritual beliefs or other guiding principles.
Definition of caregiver stress, burden, and burnout
Informal Care Partners can experience stress
This may be related to feeling undervalued, judged, isolated, or stigmatized.
It may also be task-related, based on difficulty or distress associated with tasks.
Natural reaction to challenging situations. When prolonged, can cause serious health and mental health issues. Can be physical and emotional.
Caregiver Stress
The accumulated weight of the responsibilities held by a caregiver. This can be the weight of all of the combined physical, emotional, financial, and social demands. May result in feelings of obligation, duty, pressure, or overwhelmingness
Caregiver Burden
: The extreme end of the spectrum. This is caused by advanced and chronic stress. It is complete physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion following prolonged exposure to high levels of stress and demands. Leads to feelings of: hopelessness, emotional depletion, depersonalization, loss of interest, motivation, or energy, apathy, loss of empathy, cynicism, and disconnection from the role.
Caregiver Burnout
A deep sense of emotional fatigue and a loss of enthusiasm for one’s responsibilities
Emotional Exhaustion
Developing negative or cynical attitudes, distancing oneself from the people or tasks associated with the burnout, and a reduced capacity for empathy.
Depersonalization
A decline in one’s sense of achievement and productivity, feeling like one’s efforts are futile or go unrecognized.
Reduced Personal Accomplishment
Helping caregivers
Find Meaning
When we are presented with a problem, we have three options:
Solution-oriented Coping
Emotional-oriented Coping
Meaning-oriented Coping
Meaning-oriented Coping is specific to people who are faced with unmodifiable sources of stress. There are no solutions to address the issues that they are facing. Instead, they can find meaning within the situation/event to help in coping. This might include:
Positive Outlook:
Trying to see the good aspects of the situation, like receiving quality care.
Viewing caregiving as a way to express love, strengthen connections, and fulfill personal values of duty.
Personal Growth:
Seeing caregiving as a chance to develop qualities like patience, resilience, empathy, and mindfulness.
Embracing caregiving as an opportunity for personal growth and learning.
Revised Goals:
Accepting that previous life plans have changed due to caregiving.
Creating new plans that include being a caregiver and learning important life lessons.
Spiritual Support:
Turning to personal values and spiritual beliefs for strength.
Finding fulfillment and purpose in caring for others in line with spiritual values.
