{"id":104,"date":"2017-12-08T13:12:25","date_gmt":"2017-12-08T18:12:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pbdev.ca\/ocp\/?page_id=104"},"modified":"2018-04-03T15:48:41","modified_gmt":"2018-04-03T19:48:41","slug":"topic-3-understanding-how-being-a-caregiver-affects-you","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/caregiversupport.hpco.ca\/ocpfn\/topic-3-understanding-how-being-a-caregiver-affects-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Topic 3: Understanding How Being a Caregiver Affects You"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Topic: 3<\/div>\n

Understanding How Being a Caregiver Affects You<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
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\"PDF\"Download a PDF version of this topic\u2026\u00a0<\/span>HPCO - Topic 3<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW<\/div>\n

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The Indigenous Wellness Framework identifies that emotional wellness is facilitated through relationships, having an attitude of living life to the fullest, and having connections to family and community. Emotional wellness therefore creates belonging.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation, Honouring Our Strengths: Indigenous Culture as Intervention in Addictions Treatment Project \u2013 University of Saskatchewan. (2014). reference Guide Bothwell, Ontario: Author. Canadian Institute of Health Research, Funding Reference Number AHI-120535.)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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When a member of the community finds out that one of their members is seriously ill, they will have a wide variety of individual and community responses, including: shock, denial, fear, anger, and sadness. It takes time for the community to adjust to the new reality of living with a member who is seriously ill. People may find it helpful to talk with others about their feelings, and join together to support each other. As the person continues their journey, both the community and the person who is seriously ill may experience reactions to a variety of different losses along the way.<\/p>\n

They may begin to accept the reality of death and what it might mean for their community. There may be frustrations around wanting to do more to help or fix an unfixable situation. They may feel sadness and anxiety. Some community members may become very angry or some may hide their feelings. Others may feel guilty because they feel some relief when the person dies. These are all normal reactions for people who are part of a community that is caring for a person who is seriously ill.<\/p>\n

The experience of being a caregiver can bring out all kinds of emotions. \u201cThere are times of great love, intimacy and laughter. There are also times of frustration and exhaustion. Often the difficulties do not come from taking care of someone else but because we forget to take care of ourselves or we do not ask for enough support from family, friends and community services. Some of the frustration comes from trying to understand and benefit from the complex healthcare system where we live.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Caring for Loved Ones at Home 6th ed. Harry van Bommel, Saint Elizabeth Health Care Foundation)<\/em><\/p>\n

Strategies for coping<\/span><\/h4>\n