Caregiver Coalition Fund of America’s
Family Caregiver Word of the Month
For February 2024
Aspire
Direct one’s hopes or ambitions towards achieving something.
Oxford English Dictionary, 2022
A family caregiver’s aspirations are much different than those for people who are not caregivers. Family caregivers face unique situations that require them to rethink their hopes or ambitions toward the attainment of life goals. Indeed, family caregivers must adapt to new roles and responsibilities, and frequently existing roles are redefined by the need to care for a loved one. What family caregivers have aspired to prior to becoming a caregiver, may not be relevant to their lives as caregivers.
The questions that need to be asked are:
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Should family caregivers have hopes or ambitions towards achieving something? |
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Should family caregivers have hopes or ambitions towards achieving something? |
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How can these hopes and ambitions be achieved by caregivers? |
The answer to the first question is – “Yes!” Family caregivers should have hopes or ambitions towards achieving something. These hopes, or ambitions should involve their caregiving and non-caregiving roles and responsibilities. Second, regarding family caregiving roles, there are two general aspirations: (1) to enhance the overall well-being of the care recipient, and (2) to care for themselves during their journey as a family caregiver. This second aspiration is often overlooked by family caregivers and, as a result, most caregivers suffer from caregiver burnout which is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion.
The third question involving how these hopes and ambitions can be achieved by family caregivers presents a particular problem because it is important for caregivers to precisely define their caregiving and non-caregiving goals and objectives. In this regard, the February and March 2022 Words of the Month – Abundance and Achievement - will have particular relevance. For this month, family caregivers may want to consider their aspirations in both their caregiving and non-caregiving roles.
To help family caregivers aspire to achievement, the Caregiver Coalition Fund of America has developed a Caregiver Empowerment Program. The program is designed to help family caregivers overcome the challenges associated with caregiving and to aspire to achieving caregiving and non-caregiving goals. The Program contains the following modules:
- Self-Care,
- Safety and Security,
- Caring Relationships,
- Problem Solving,
- Advocacy,
- Caregiver Empowerment.
If you are a caregiver and you seek to aspire to caregiving and non-caregiving goals, please e-mail us at – help@carecfa.org for more information regarding our Caregiver Empowerment Program.