Alamo Caregiver Empowerment

Are You A Caregiver?

Does someone rely on you for care?
Then you are a family caregiver.

What does it mean to be a family caregiver?

Caregiving means helping a person who can't take care of himself/herself because of illness or disability.

Okay, so I am a family caregiver. Now what?

Caregiving is a big job, and it can disrupt your life. Recognizing yourself as a caregiver is the first step in taking care of yourself and taking care of yourself is essential if you’re going to survive the strain and responsibility. 

What should I do next?

Use the following tips to help ease the pressure of caregiving: 

• Ask for help! You can’t do everything yourself.
• Prioritize. Do only what is most important.
• Communicate with friends and relatives. Don’t isolate yourself. You can’t do everything yourself.
• Seek resources. When seeking help from agencies and organizations, write everything down: your questions, the date of contact, with whom you spoke, what was said. Keep your notes.
• Recognize what you do is important. Remind yourself daily of the value of what you’re doing.
• Take care of yourself. Exercise, eat right and take a respite break.

For information on respite and other resources available to caregivers, contact the Alamo Service Connection at (210) 477-3275 or visit www.acewings.org.