Being a caregiver to a person who is ill or losing his or her autonomy is a great responsibility. Sometimes, the role that caregivers play is to the detriment of their own physical and psychological well-being. It is therefore important to know that many resources exist for these people. Consulting in social work is one of them. The social worker can provide very concrete support for a caregiver.
Caregiver: a definition
Being a caregiver means taking care of someone around you who has limitations. These limitations can be caused by a health problem, a disability or the consequences of aging. In many cases, the dependent person is a parent or loved one.
They are also called “natural caregivers”, since they are called upon to intervene in the daily life and living environment of their sick or aging loved one. They intervene to provide the necessary care for their loved one’s condition, to help him or her meet his or her needs and to carry out daily tasks.
Enlightening statistics
Studies have shown that 30% of Canadians (working population) are caregivers. This means that almost one in three people in the country are living with such responsibilities. In terms of time spent providing care and support, 35% of caregivers spend more than 5 hours per week, while 10% spend more than 20 hours.
A family caregiver is at increased risk for burnout, anxiety and depression. Sometimes people find themselves in a state of psychological distress and feel isolated. The fact that the person being cared for is a family member or loved one makes it difficult for many caregivers to set limits on the support they provide. They want to give everything and do as much as possible for their loved one. This puts them at great risk of exhaustion and consequences for their physical health and psychological well-being.
The Institut de la statistique du Québec revealed in a 2014 study that 64% of caregivers are forced to reduce the time they allocate to social activities and relaxation.
What support can social work offer a family caregiver?
The goal of social work intervention in the context of family caregivers is to maximize physical and emotional well-being. The goal is to avoid exhaustion and the related consequences. It is important to understand that an exhausted caregiver cannot offer the same quality of care and support, in addition to risking significant repercussions for their own health.
In this sense, the social worker can provide a lot of advice and support in many ways:
- To direct the caregiver to the community resources that exist;
- To help them take advantage of all the financial resources and assistance programs available to them;
- Helping the caregiver accept that other people are involved in the care of the ill or aging person;
- To plan daily tasks;
- To encourage the caregiver to plan respite time, during which the caregiver can enjoy hobbies and take a rest;
- And so on.
Sometimes, simply meeting with a social worker can help the caregiver break out of their isolation. The opinion of the professional, who is outside the situation, can help the caregiver take a step back. It can help them become aware of their condition and the importance of preserving their health and well-being, both for their own benefit and that of the ill person.
Online social work consultation
Through this service, which we offer at Clinique GO™, a person who is in a caregiving situation can receive advice and support from a social worker through virtual consultations. The online consultation in social work is a versatile service, which allows you to take advantage of the expertise of a professional who is just as versatile!
Approuvé par Francis Desjardins
