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Power Caregiving
By Mary Z. McGrath, Ph.D.
When the first signs of a serious
illness occur in a spouse, friend or family member, one
may feel very powerless and overwhelmed. Surprisingly
though, when assuming the role of caregiver, whether
directly in your home or indirectly if your loved one is
in a facility or hospital, you can discover your
personal power. By focusing on the job skills that you
already have, you can move into the role of caregiver
and become a powerful and effective advocate for the
person experiencing a challenging illness.
Consider the skills you use in your
professional job role. This could include work in the
business world, education, other professions and
parenting. Realize that over time you have sharpened
your range of talents and skills in order to work
successfully in your career or parenting role. Though
these skills work for you on the job, they are also
within you 24/7. It is a matter of naming them for
transfer to another venue where they will show
themselves in a different form. Then you can target them
for maximum benefit to your loved one.
Following are seven skills that professionals and
parents develop to work successfully on the job and in
their specific roles.
1. Communication:
Fundamentally, this involves effective
speaking and writing skills used on behalf of someone
who is unable to do that for themselves due to illness
or loss of abilities. Caregiver communication also
involves learning the communication styles and networks
of those who assist your loved one. Notice the methods
used for staff to communicate with one another on both a
formal and informal basis. Once you learn how hospital
or care facility staffers communicate among themselves,
you can move your concerns forward. Make it a point to
know when and how often team information sharing
meetings or care conferences are held. Find out how care
providers transfer information when making a transition
between shifts or facilities. Then determine what you
can do to ensure that the proper information flows along
their communication networks and reaches the proper
people on a regular basis.
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