November is National Caregivers Month and to kick off, I've interviewed TV personality and caregiver activist, Leeza Gibbons.
Leeza Gibbons is an Emmy Award winner TV personality who has become an important voice for family caregivers. Recognized as a social entrepreneur, Leeza has become one of the leading voices for issues facing family caregivers. When her mother and grandmother were struggling with Alzheimer’s disease, she created what she wished she and her family had and started, Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation. Her training as a journalist united with her compassion and business savvy when she opened the foundation’s signature programs, Leeza’s Place and Leeza’s Care Connection, offering free services for family caregivers encouraging them to call on their courage and summon their strength for the long journey ahead. Leeza lives in Los Angeles with her husband, New York Times Best Selling Author Steven Fenton, and their rescue pup, Biggie. She has three children, daughter, Leksi and sons Troy and Nate.
1. Leeza, some readers here in The Caregivers' Living Room will know you from your television career, but they may not be aware your own family caregiving experience.
Leeza Gibbons is an Emmy Award winner TV personality who has become an important voice for family caregivers. Recognized as a social entrepreneur, Leeza has become one of the leading voices for issues facing family caregivers. When her mother and grandmother were struggling with Alzheimer’s disease, she created what she wished she and her family had and started, Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation. Her training as a journalist united with her compassion and business savvy when she opened the foundation’s signature programs, Leeza’s Place and Leeza’s Care Connection, offering free services for family caregivers encouraging them to call on their courage and summon their strength for the long journey ahead. Leeza lives in Los Angeles with her husband, New York Times Best Selling Author Steven Fenton, and their rescue pup, Biggie. She has three children, daughter, Leksi and sons Troy and Nate.
1. Leeza, some readers here in The Caregivers' Living Room will know you from your television career, but they may not be aware your own family caregiving experience.
A: My caregiving journey began when my mother was
diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1999, and I acted as one of her
caretakers up until she passed away. Now, I help provide care for my dad who
suffers from heart disease. Throughout my experience with caregiving, I’ve
realized that it is certainly a marathon, not a sprint – and in order to make
it through the marathon, caregivers need support too.
2. What kind of support did you find helpful? Do you use technology aids in your caregiving?
2. What kind of support did you find helpful? Do you use technology aids in your caregiving?
As a long distance caregiver for my dad, I
constantly worried about him when I couldn’t be nearby, and this only grew
worse when we discovered his heart condition. To help ensure his safety and
ease our worry, my family and I made the decision to get him a Philips Lifeline
medical alert service in case he had an emergency. In the summer of 2015, this
technology ended up saving his life when my dad had a heart attack in his own
home – it came out of nowhere and he hit the floor. Thankfully, he was wearing
his Philips Lifeline, and within seconds the call center dispatched the medical
team and gave him the best chance of surviving this life-threatening event.
3.
How is your work changing the
public conversation about caregiving? How can caregivers ourselves be part of
that conversation?
A: My work is for all of the courageous caregivers
who take care of a loved one day in and day out, and are selflessly offering
their time and energy. Caregivers can have multiple people depending on them,
and their own feelings are often suppressed until it becomes too much and
bubbles over. If the stress of caregiving is left unchecked, it can take a toll
on health, relationships and state of mind. By sharing my own personal
experiences with caregiving, I hope to give other caregivers the courage to
find their voice and rise above the toxic feelings that drain us. If we are
able to shine the light on the struggles family caregivers face, then we can
work on building strong systems of support for them and give caregivers
toolkits to work through troublesome feelings such as guilt, frustration,
resentment and social isolation.
When I first became a caregiver, I was unaware of
all of the resources available to make the daily grind a bit easier and my
parents safer. Caregivers have so many important tasks – you manage
medications, provide transportation, schedule doctor appointments, stock the
refrigerator and more. By spreading the word about technology and other
tools that have helped me navigate the caregiving rollercoaster, I hope to help
others discover ways to be optimistic in the face of its challenges.
While the demands of caregiving can be
overwhelming, no caregiver should suffer in silence or walk the path alone. I
always say you can’t pour from an empty vessel. If caregivers reach out and
connect with others and create open lines of communication between those close
to them, they will be more likely to bolster themselves physically, emotionally
and mentally to go the distance.
4.
What can be accomplished by
National Family Caregivers Month and how can family caregivers be involved?
A: Caregivers don’t get nearly as much credit and
recognition as they deserve. National Family Caregiver’s Month celebrates the
caregiver in all of their glory as the unsung heroes that keep our families and
communities so strong. This time is to celebrate their efforts and raise
awareness of the many stresses family caregiver’s face, big and small, in order
to increase support for them.
I’m proud to be part of the conversation in the
fight to help caregivers become more resilient and resourceful. Other caregivers
can get involved by simply sharing their story, and what the day in the life of
a family caregiver looks like! What do you find as the most rewarding aspect of
being a caregiver? Do you sometimes struggle with guilt? Do you feel
underappreciated? Share your “caregiver confession” and help drive the
conversation. By raising awareness, we can work to lift each other up and help
elevate the daily burdens of caregiving.
5.
Tell us about a few of the
innovative approaches to self-care that you are most excited about right now.
A: Caregivers spend an average of 20 unpaid hours
each week caring for their loved ones, giving their time and attention morning,
noon and night to care for others. This level of dedication can crowd out other
important areas of life, not to mention add financial pressure into the mix.
Caregiver burnout is common due to these added stressors, and can be
particularly damaging, considering it is typically a chronic, long-term
challenge. Without adequate help or support, the stress of caregiving can leave
you vulnerable to a wide range of physical and emotional problems. If you are
experiencing symptoms of caregiver burnout, such as feeling run down, having
trouble concentrating or neglecting responsibilities, it is time to take action
and take care of yourself.
Despite its challenges, caregiving can also be
rewarding – However, that light at the end of the tunnel can only be realized
with enough stamina and good health. Some self-care approaches I like to use
when I see caregiver burnout red-flags appear in my own life include:
1. Journaling
– Unfiltered writing is a powerful tool for releasing any built up frustration
or sadness.
2. Physical
Activity – it is a powerful stress reliever and mood enhancer! You don’t
have to go to the gym or engage in time consuming vigorous exercise. Any way
you move counts, whether it is gardening or taking a short walk, and it will
help you have more energy with a clear head.
3. Eat
healthy and hydrate – A proper diet can have a major impact on your health
and wellbeing. Plan out some tasty, easy to prepare meals at the beginning of
each week. Your brain is more than 80%
water, if you’re dehydrated, you’re more likely to snap, have sleep challenges
and deplete physically.
4. Be
open to technology – Technology doesn’t have to be complicated, and in my
case, ended up being a life-saver. Medical alert services like Philips Lifeline
can help you feel less anxious about your loved one’s safety.
5. Connect with others – Being isolated can lead to depression and even
make you more at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Look for others who “get you” through support groups or one of the many
free online therapy sites.
6.
How can whole communities
better support caregiving families?
A: Taking on all of the responsibilities of
caregiving without assistance is a surefire recipe for caregiver burnout –
don’t try to do it all alone, because you’re not alone! However, people won’t
know you are struggling unless you speak up and spread the responsibility, and
most importantly, are willing to relinquish some control. Enlist friends,
neighbors or family that lives nearby to run errands or sit with the care
receiver so that you can take a well-deserved break – however short! People usually
need some instruction, so you have to tell them, instead of waiting for someone
to offer – learning to ask “can you please walk my dog?” or “can you drop off
dinner tonight?” is an important skill to develop. It is also helpful to find a
friend who you can check in with and who can offer an outside perspective so
that you can vent without repercussions.
There are free online “care calendars” which is a
great place where you can list your needs and any other information. You can
invite your family and friends to join your calendar to see how to help. There’s a big chance that someone you live near
or work with is a caregiver. Wouldn’t it be great if we let all those family
first responders know that we appreciate them and we’re here to help?
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