Although caring for a family member or a loved one can be rewarding, it can also be demanding. If you are a caregiver you are not alone. There are other people just like you and many services designed to help those in your position. Below you will find resources to help you reduce the stress that comes with being a caregiver.

1. Join a Support Group

The chance to talk with others who are going through similar circumstances and facing the same daily challenges as you can help minimize and manage stress. Members of support groups may offer new ideas, coping tips, life experiences and emotional support. The availability to access support groups varies depending on your location. Visit this caregiver.com guide to find a support group near you or call (954) 893-0550 or 1-800-829-2734. If you cannot visit an onsite support group, consider an online support group.

2. Find Respite Care

Respite care services provide someone to care for your loved one while you are away for an hour or for a couple of days. Respite care provides you with the temporary relief and the time you need to relax or to check items off your to-do list that cannot be done during a normal day. To find a respite service in your area, visit Wellness.com’s Respite Care Directory.

3. Find Housekeeping Help

As a primary caregiver, you already have your hands full. Sometimes there just isn’t enough time in the day to fold the laundry or wash the dishes. To find someone who can help you take care of daily house work visit Care.com’s Senior Care Directory, where you can search through profiles of housekeepers, errand runners and pet sitters to find the help you need (or call 1-855-805-0711).

4. Utilize Alternative Transportation Options

If you need assistance in providing transportation for your loved one, the National Transit Hotline can provide the names of local transit providers who receive federal money to provide transportation to the elderly and people with disabilities. Call toll free 1-800-527-8279 to learn more. Types of transportation that may be available includes individual door-to-door service, fixed route with scheduled services, or ride-sharing with volunteer drivers.

5. Visit a Family Caregiver Consultant

The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging provides Family Caregiver Consultants who can provide you with people who come into your home and help with caring for your loved one; provide information on stress relief, general caregiver topics, disease management, organization of a loved one’s information; give a referral to other community resources that might help withyour caregiving; and help you develop a plan to meet your needs. To contact an Area Agency on Aging Family Caregiver Consultant, find your local AAA agency or call 1-877-770-5558.

Author bio: Kaitlyn Teabo is a writer for The Mesothelioma Center, http://www.asbestos.com/. She combines her interests in writing, cancer research and emerging scientific technology to educate the mesothelioma community about asbestos and its related diseases.

Sources:

(2013, Jan. 9). AAAs/TITLE VI AGENCIES. Retrieved from http://www.n4a.org/about-n4a/?fa=aaa-title-VI

Caregiving. Retrieved from http://www.aarp.org/online-community/groups/index.action?slGroupKey=Group92

Home Care. Retrieved from http://www.carepathways.com/TRANSx.cfm

Klein, Rebecca. (2012, Nov. 21). Caregiver Resources: 13 Tools To Help Reduce Stress This Holiday Season. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/20/caregiverresources_n_2133063.html

Local Resources. Retrieved from http://www.caregiver.com/regionalresources/index.htm

Quick Tips: Reducing the Stress of Caregiving – Get started. Retrieved from http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-center/quick-tips-reducing-the-stress-of-caregiving.aspx

Respite Care. Retrieved from http://www.wellness.com/find/respite%20care

Senior Care Options. Retrieved from http://www.care.com/seniors