The Family Caregiver Do’s and Don’ts

The DO’s

• DO take care of yourself as well as you take care of the person you care for
• DO ask for help before you get burned out
• DO accept help when it is offered – others get joy from being able to give
• DO find something each day to be grateful for DO be honest with yourself and your loved one
• DO remember the things that bring you happiness and joy no matter how small
• DO know your boundaries
• DO remember that you can not control everything in this situation
• DO practice mindfulness – live in the moment
• DO walk away when you need a moment to collect yourself
• DO try to remember that the only thing you can control is how you react to each situation
• DO write down one positive thing that happens each day
• DO make an appointment with a friend for a regular check in
• DO keep a record of your journey – in a journal, with drawings, by painting

The DO NOT’S

• DO NOT hold yourself responsible for the things that appear to go wrong
• DO NOT lose hope – there are people who are willing and able to help you
• DO NOT forget to laugh
• DO NOT ignore the small blessings that do happen
• DO NOT feel guilty about taking breaks
• DO NOT ignore the signs that you have too much on your plate
• DO NOT assume that you have to do this alone
• DO NOT ignore the signs of caregiver burnout
  
  • losing patience easily
  • inability to focus and make good decisions
  • increasing health issues
  • inability to sleep
  • excess gain or loss of weight