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Crucial Tips for Unpaid Caregivers in Vermont

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If you are among the estimated 43.5 million people who provide unpaid care to a loved one in the United States, your selfless caregiving has likely taken its toll on you and your immediate family. As a caregiver, you are likely to put everyone else’s needs ahead of your own, causing your own health and maybe even finances to suffer. While providing unpaid care is certainly admirable, you also need to care for yourself. With that in mind, the Essex Junction elder law attorneys at Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC provide crucial tips for unpaid caregivers in Vermont.

How Does Being a Caregiver Impact You?

You probably have not taken much time to consider how being an unpaid caregiver impacts you, but it almost assuredly does. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 15 percent of unpaid caregivers experience 14 or more mentally and/or physically unhealthy days each more and one in three admits to not getting enough sleep. Often, caregivers are forced to reduce their work hours to provide care and many caregivers find that being a caregiver is a financial burden for them and their immediate family.

Unpaid Caregiver Tips

If you are dedicated to continuing to provide care for a loved one, the following tips for unpaid caregivers may be of help:

  1. Locate a caregiver support group. Knowing you are not alone can be invaluable. AARP provides resources that can help you find a support group.
  2. Schedule time off and vacations. Don’t just say you need a break, actually schedule breaks and take them unless there is a true emergency.
  3. Let others help when they can. The next time a family member, friend, or neighbor offers to cook dinner or sit with your loved one while you rest, take them up on the offer.
  4. Educate yourself on your loved one’s medical issues. A complete and thorough understanding of the medical conditions, both physical and mental, that plagues your loved one will make caregiving more efficient.
  5. Make sure you have the necessary legal authority. You might need a financial Power of Attorney, a healthcare Power of Attorney, or even full guardianship over your loved one to properly provide care.
  6. Set boundaries. When possible, define the parameters of the care you are willing to provide early on in the process and then stick to the boundaries of that agreement.
  7. Look into getting paid for the care you provide. People are often shocked to learn that there are frequently state or federal programs that will compensate an unpaid caregiver. Check with the Vermont Office of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living to see if you are eligible to be paid for your caregiving.
  8. Ask for help when you need it. If you need help, for any reason or for anything, do not hesitate to ask for it. People cannot help if they don’t know you need help.
  9. Tell your healthcare providers about your caregiving. Make sure that your own doctors are aware of your caregiving activities so they can help monitor the effect caregiving has on your own physical and mental health.
  10. Accept the need for long-term care when necessary. Although your goal when providing unpaid care is to avoid the need for nursing home care, be prepared to accept that LTC may be necessary at some point.

Do You Have Questions about Caregiver Tips?

For more information, please attend one of our upcoming FREE webinars. If you have questions or concerns about caregiver tips or other elder law issues, contact an experienced Essex Junction elder law attorney at Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC by calling 802-879-7133 to schedule your appointment today.

Ellen LaPlante
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