Understanding Yourself as a Caregiver: What Do You Need

to Keep Going?

Identifying Strengths & Limitations AND Learning to Believe in

Yourself!

It’s Like Putting Together a Jigsaw Puzzle

• What is your life experience with care?• Who are you personality-wise?• How do you learn new information best?• What is your relationship to the person?• What is the environment of care?• Where in the progression of the condition is the

person?• What are the resources available?

Personality Traits

Who are you? • Introvert-Extrovert• Lots of Details – Big Picture only• Logical – Emotional• Planning ahead – Being in the moment

Who is the person you are trying to help?

Life Experience

• Talents & Skills• Previous and Current Careers or Jobs• Volunteer Activities or Hobbies• Other Caregiving Roles• Care Receiving Roles• Helping & Support Roles• Knowledge about the Medical Community• Exposure to Dementia• Knowledge about ‘Aging’ Issues

Introvert - Extrovert

Introvert• Likes to be alone• Likes to think it out• Likes personal space• Needs alone time• Private

Extrovert• Think out loud• Talk it out• Seek out people• Share a lot• Not good with

boundaries

Details – Big Picture

Details• Lots of facts and

figures• Specifics of what to

do• Likes to get going -

doing

Big Picture• Likes to know WHY• Likes to think about it

before doing anything• Likes to hear the big

plan

Logical - Emotional

Logical• Head First• Fair• Reasonable• Rational

Emotional• Heart First• Nice• Kind• Empathetic

Planning Ahead – In the Moment

Planning Ahead• Aware of the future• Sets priorities - plans• Likes routines• Likes a schedule• Likes to do things as

planned• Needs to be in

CONTROL

In the Moment• Being flexible• Go with the flow• No forward thinking• Running late• Putting other things

off• GO WITH THE FLOW

Learning Preferences

• We are all smart in different ways

• Its not about if you are smart, it about HOW you are smart!

• You learn best if your preferred learning style is used!

• If you know, you can ask for what you need!

Multiple Intelligences(how do you learn?)

• Verbal/Linguistic (word smart)• Spatial/Visual (picture smart)• Logical/Mathematical (number smart)• Bodily/Kinesthetic (body smart)• Musical/Rhythmical (music smart)• Interpersonal (myself smart)• Intrapersonal (people smart)• Naturalistic (nature smart)• Existential (big picture smart)

Verbal Linguistic Learners

• Like words, reading, stories

• Uses handouts, case studies

• Books and journaling may help

Memory Loss

• Losses– Immediate recall– Attention to selected info– Recent events– Relationships

• Preserved abilities – Long ago memories– Confabulation!– Emotional memories– Motor memories

Visual Spatial Learners

• Like pictures and movies

• Try short videos, graphics and pictures

• Organized handouts

• Charts and graphs

Memory Loss

• Losses– Immediate recall– Attention to selected info– Recent events– Relationships

• Preserved abilities – Long ago memories– Confabulation!– Emotional memories– Motor memories

Logical/Mathematical Learners

• Like to think about problems and figure things out

• Like to be asked questions, needs to get to answer

Memory Changes…

• So, what will work better – – Ask about what happened this morningOR- Talk about her wedding day 50 years ago

- Point out that she hid her own purseOR- Recognize it is missing and she is upset about

it & we need to do something about it

Bodily/Kinesthetic Learners

• Like to handle objects while learning

• Like to practice and do things

Musical/Rhythmic Learners

• Like music singing, rhythm

• Use poems, songs, rhymes

A Positive Approach(To the Tune of Amazing Grace)

Come from the frontGo slow

Get to the side,Get low

Offer your handCall out the name then WAIT…If you will try, then you will see

How different life can be.For those you’re caring for!

Interpersonal Learners

• Like talking and sharing with others

• Use group activities, discussion

Intrapersonal Learners

• Like thinking to self

• Use independent projects

Naturalistic Learners

• Likes categories, groupings of info

• Likes working with animals, plants, nature

• Gets patterns and differences

Existential Learner

• Likes to hear about and ‘see’ the BIG PICTURE

• Relates new learning to theories and other real world experiences

Most people are….

• Really good at THREE intelligences

• OK at THREE intelligences

• Not good with THREE intelligences

Using Multiple Intelligences

• Know your own preferences

• Identify the types of learners you work with

• Integrate strategies

Your Relationship

• What is your history?

• Who had what roles?

• Who else was involved?

• Who else might you act like, look like, or sound like?

• What is changing? How much?

Environmental Considerations

• Place & Space• Location• Sound• Lighting• Privacy• Security• Equipment• Furniture & Appliances• # of People Around

• Safety• Access• Use-ability• Hide-ability

Current State – Care Receiver

• What is the level of impairment?

• What are the behaviors?

• What support is needed?

• How willing is the person?

• How aware is the person?

• Who else knows?

• Who else can/will help?

Resources

• Money• Time• Energy• Skills• Space & Place• Services & Programs• People

• Equipment• Training• Support Groups• Advisors – medical &

legal & financial• Agencies or

Organizations

Believe in Yourself

• Acknowledge your skills and talents• Recognize your limitations• Explore what is needed• Look for the matches• Identify the missing pieces• Decide on what to do• Decide on what NOT to do• Get help for what is needed• Be GOOD to yourself!