Frequency of Support
Caregivers often find it difficult to ask for help, and are often unsure of where to begin or what to ask for. This is where a needs assessment becomes a super valuable tool. By taking the time to assess and categorize your needs, you can identify the specific support required to manage your caregiving responsibilities effectively. Once you’ve done that, activating your community becomes much easier, allowing you to share the load and lessen the risk of burnout.
Step 1: Conducting a Needs Assessment
The first step in this process is to conduct a thorough needs assessment. This involves taking a close look at your daily life (your needs, other family members’ needs – ex. kids) and caregiving responsibilities, identifying where you need support, and categorizing those needs based on how often they arise. By breaking down your needs into daily, weekly, monthly, and occasional tasks, you can get a clear picture of what help you need and when.
Daily Needs:
These are the tasks that must be done every single day, without fail. They’re often the most demanding and time-consuming responsibilities, such as:
- Preparing meals and feeding your loved one.
- Administering medications.
- Assisting with personal care (bathing, dressing, etc.).
- Monitoring your loved one’s health and well-being.
- Managing household chores like cleaning and laundry.
Weekly Needs:
These tasks are typically done once or twice a week and might include:
- Grocery shopping.
- Transportation to and from medical appointments.
- Running errands, such as picking up prescriptions.
- Yard work or home maintenance tasks.
- Organizing and planning for the week ahead.
- Other family members’ schedules (soccer practice, tutoring, etc.)
Monthly Needs:
These are less frequent but still important tasks that come up on a monthly basis, such as:
- Paying bills and managing finances.
- Scheduling and attending medical check-ups or therapy sessions.
- Reviewing and updating the care plan.
- Deep cleaning areas of the home.
- Purchasing supplies like medical equipment or household items.
Occasional Needs:
These are tasks that don’t happen regularly but can be time-consuming or require additional support when they do arise, including:
- Handling unexpected medical situations or emergencies.
- Coordinating with other family members or healthcare professionals.
- Planning and managing special events or holidays.
- Taking your loved one out for social activities or outings.
- Arranging for respite care or a caregiver break.
The Importance of Asking for Help
Asking for Help is Not a Sign of Weakness. It’s a NECESSITY.
No one can do it all alone, and by sharing the load, you not only lighten your own to do list but also allow others the opportunity to support you and your loved one.
Another way of framing support is to look at it as an opportunity to spend time with your friends and family. Your loved one’s diagnosis may limit your ability to get out and socialize. Use this time to have a chat or schedule a game night after they provide the support. Don’t forget to include the fun. You need it and they will look forward to providing more support.
Step 2: Activating Your Community for Support
Once you’ve identified your needs, the next step is to activate your community to help fulfill them. This is where the power of delegation and asking for help comes into play. Remember, people in your life often want to help—they just need to know how. You’re the project manager. You need to delegate with detailed instructions.
Daily Support:
For daily tasks, consider reaching out to close family members, friends, or neighbors who can commit to regular assistance. For example, you might ask a family member to help with meal prep or ask a neighbor to assist with daily check-ins.
Weekly Support:
Weekly tasks are a great opportunity to involve your broader community. You might arrange for a friend to take on grocery shopping or ask a volunteer from a local organization to help with transportation to medical appointments.
Monthly Support:
Monthly needs can often be planned ahead of time, making it easier to schedule help. For example, you could ask a relative to help with financial management or find a local service to assist with deep cleaning tasks.
Occasional Support:
For occasional needs, it’s important to have a list of people you can call on when something unexpected arises. This might include extended family, members of your religious or community group, or even professional services that can step in when needed.
Step 3: Preparing Your Top 3 Weekly Needs
One of the most practical ways to ensure you get the help you need is to always have your top three needs or asks ready each week. When someone asks, “Do you need anything?” you’ll have a clear, concise answer that allows them to help in a meaningful way.
Each week, review your needs assessment and identify the three most pressing tasks where you need support. For example, you might ask for help with:
- Picking up groceries for the week.
- Taking your loved one to a medical appointment.
- Assisting with a household chore like laundry or yard work.
By having these top three asks ready, you’ll be able to respond quickly when someone offers assistance, making it easier for them to choose which one of the three needs best fits their intention, schedule and financial situation. Options allow them to support at the level that they can without setting undue expectations or creating a hardship in someone else’s household.
Access FREE Dowloadable Guides
Our guides are FREE to family caregivers and those who are looking for ways to support a caregiver. Download them today. Here are a few to get you started. You can always visitor our RESOURCES page to find more.
Caregiver Action Plan - Our most comprehensive guide includes everything you need to perform a needs assessment, establish trackers, activate your community and schedule your own self-care.
Self-Care Planner - You can't forget to take care of yourself while caring for your loved one.
Hospital Packing Guide - This guide comes complete with checklists and links to some of our favorite items.
Gratitude Journal - A caregiver's mental and physical health will greatly impact the state of the entire household. Sometimes you may need a little prompt to recalibrate.
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