Caregiving: The New Career

Over the last decade, the role of caregiver has emerged as a highly valued new career. Due to numerous medical advances, more individuals choose to continue medical service in their own homes with the majority of care provided by family and loved ones. As a caregiver, you are not alone. A recent survey by AARP found that 34% of Americans currently work as
caregivers. This number is likely to increase as the U.S. population ages.

Emotions Related to Caregiving

The National Alliance for Caregiving estimated that caregivers spend an average of four and one half years providing care. As a caregiver, you are confronted with multiple responsibilities from bathing, feeding, and providing emotional support to offering financial assistance and making major lifestyle decisions for your patient. Although there are positive and rewarding experiences in providing assistance to a loved one, there are also complex and tiring obstacles that often impede the path to caregiving. Feelings of guilt, frustration, and anger are some of the most common emotions felt by caregivers. These feelings are normal and must not be
overlooked. Remember, as a caregiver, not to ignore your own needs. If you do not care for yourself, it will be extremely difficult to care for another individual. Talking with and listening to other caregivers who experience similar situations, feelings and questions can ease the tension and provide the comfort of knowing you are not alone.

"Share Because You Care": Caregiver Support Group

Baptist Health System recognizes the physical, mental, and social demands related to caregiving. To honor the importance of caregivers, Baptist would like to invite you to attend our "Share Because You Care" Caregiver Support Group. Any person with an interest in caregiving is welcome to attend. The meetings will be held at each of our Senior Center locations. The program includes a thirty-minute seminar on a topic related to the caregiving profession, followed by a Share and Discuss session among all those in attendance. The first meeting will take place at the West Hills Baptist Senior Center on August 7 from 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. The topic of discussion will be "Birth Order and the Relationship to Caregiving." Just as the person your care for has needs, so do you. Baptist cares because you care.

Contact Information

For more information about the "Share Because You Care" Support Group, please contact Baptist Senior Services at (865) 632-5170. We would like to have your input about helpful topics. Feel free to request more information on Senior Services and our programs.