Caring Web

Men:  Finding Answers in Supportive Programs

How many times have you thought that asking for help was a sign of weakness?  It is like trying to open a jar lid that is ‘stuck’ and being too proud to ask for help…perhaps we have all been there, done that! 

There may be times in caring for your loved one that you are ‘stuck’ and really need to find answers.  How many of you know that there are programs that offer help for caregivers? 

For your own well-being and to keep from becoming stressed and exhausted, it is important to find social support and respite help.

• Social Support is having friends and other people, including family, to turn to in times of need or crisis to give you a broader focus and positive self-image. 
• Respite help is a service that can give you a temporary break from your daily routine of caring for your loved one.

Not seeking social support or respite help could lead to physical and emotional weakness.  

• Physical weakness refers to your own illnesses, muscle strains, headaches, etc.  This can occur when you do not take care of yourself because your total focus is on your loved one.
• Emotional weakness refers to mental stress that can occur.  Depression, anger, crying, etc. are signs of emotional weakness.

It is helpful to become familiar with agencies in your area that can provide help by looking in the phonebook or utilizing the Internet.  Some services that can be of assistance within the United States include:

Health and Human Services http://www.hhs.gov	Offers agencies and information for any type of assistance
Social Services Other Social Services (ncea.aoa.gov)	Find Social Work Services for counseling, financial and supportive help
Public Health Department http://www.hhs.gov/	Locate your local health department for immunizations and other needs
Adult Day Care Services http://aging.ohio.gov/resources/	Day care for your loved one.  Great help for the working caregiver
Faith Based Agencies http://caregiveraction.org/resources/agencies-and-organizations	Area agencies supported by local churches for respite care or assistive devices
Extended Care Facilities www.hcr-manorcare.com www.extendicareus.com	Locate local care facilities for overnight respite, short or long term rehab nee
Area Office on Aging http://www.areaofficeonaging.com	Locate local county agencies to assist with any needs
Job and Family Service http://jfs.ohio.gov/ocomm_root/1000OurServices.stm	Locate your local county job and family service agency for group activities or the local senior center

 

Additional Web Information: Here are some websites that can give more information on agencies and services that offer social support and respite help. (Please click to view) https://www.caregiver.org/caregiving-101-exploring-complexities-family-caregiving

References:

Knutsen, H., & Raholm, M. (2009).  The dialectic movement between suffering and reconciliation: Male caregivers’ experience of caring for their wives suffering from dementia.  International Journal for Human Caring, 13(4), 50-56. 

Kramer, B., & Thompson, E. (2005).  Men as caregivers.  Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books.

National Family CaregiverAssociation. (n.d.). Agencies and organizations.  Retrieved from https://www.caregiver.org/resources-health-issue-or-condition

Pierce, L. L., Steiner, V., Seymour, J. R., Wicks, B., Wright C. & Thompson, T.  (2010).  Questions caregivers asked in caring for persons with a stroke.  Online Journal of Nursing Informatics, 14(2).  Retrieved from
http://ojni.org/14_2/Pierce.pdf

Developed in 2011 by Karen Niner, RN, BSN at the University of Toledo for Caring~Web.