ARTICLES / General /
Summer Travel Plans for Caregivers
By Sheryl Leary
Be sure substitute caregivers have access to
all information needed including: medication
schedule (also be sure to have an ample supply
of medication available), all emergency phone
numbers including doctor, pharmacy, nearest
relative, your contact information, a listing of
medical conditions, power of attorney and health
care proxy information.
Recognize that both you and your loved one will
have a degree of worry and stress because this is a
change in the routine. Caregivers often need to be
reminded that part of taking care of someone else is
taking care of yourself. Recognizing and acting on
that need for relief is probably the greatest gift
you can give your loved one. It is the gift that
will allow you to continue caring.
Life changes and vacations change when you are a
caregiver. Caregiving does not mean you have to give
up your dreams of travel or your simple desire to
“get away from it all.” Caregiving means that you
have added a new dimension to your planning and
creativity to your schedule, but the dream can still
be fulfilled.
Sheryl Leary is the Family
Caregiver Specialist for HESSCO Elder Services in
Sharon, MA. In this role, she provides individual
consultations for caregivers as well as educational
programming for the community as a whole. Throughout
her career, Sheryl has maintained a focus on
caregiver issues and alleviating caregiver stress.
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