• Meet regularly with a local, in-person, support/resource group. Locally, in the Brazos Valley, I run several family caregiver support groups. If you'd like to be added to the caregiver email list, so you are kept current on meetings and resources shared through those support groups, please let me know.

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• Seek the advice of an elder law/estate attorney as early as possible, and ensure your loved one has legal paperwork completed. This paperwork should be reviewed and updated by every 5-10 years so they accomplish their goal(s) for your loved one as they relate to current laws.​​​​

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• Get confirmation of your loved one’s diagnoses and begin learning about them and planning for complications, care needs, etc.

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• Determine your loved one’s wishes (seem too early? It isn’t). This includes advanced directives wishes as well as burial, funeral and disposition of remains wishes, but keep in mind wishes are just that, and if compromises need to be made for safety and care needs, then compromises should be made.

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• Get educated on hospice and out of hospital DNR (again, not too early). What are you looking for that helps determine when these are needed for your specific situation? Those placed on hospice at the appropriate time have better quality of life and the caregiver has better support. 

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• Review your loved one's (not your own) financial situation and care needs, so you know what options are available. Research additional support options.

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• Develop your caregiver “contract” - See Michele’s 7-Steps to Approaching Caregiving (below).

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• Schedule regular respite breaks for yourself. What needs to be done for this to occur on a regular basis.

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• Regularly assess your level of burden using the caregiver burden (see form below).

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• Communicate frequently with family members and friends involved in the care of your loved one. If there are difficult family dynamics, consider mediation services to allow clarification of roles, plans, and decisions, so everyone is clear regarding what to expect.

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• There are a variety of living options for individuals including private home with in-home care, Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Nursing Home, etc. To learn more about these options, reach out to me or watch this educational video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwSiXfPBie8

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• All counties in the state of Texas have an Area Agency on Aging, offering state and federally funded programs and resources that might be useful to you and/or your loved one.

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• Review the Additional Resources shown below: