Caregiving & Aging September/October 2024 Newsletter

Caregiving & Aging September/October 2024 Newsletter

Sep 23, 2024

Managing Caregiver Guilt


Being a caregiver to a family member, friend, or loved one can be physically and emotionally draining, bringing the heightened feelings of stress, anxiety, and guilt. 

For caregivers, painful feelings — such as guilt, sadness and anger — are like any other pain. It’s your body’s way of saying, “Pay attention.” Just as the pain of a burned finger pulls your hand from the stove, so, too, guilt guides your actions and optimizes your health.

You have a picture of the “Ideal You” with values you hold and how you relate to yourself and others. Guilt often arises when there’s a mismatch between your day-to-day choices and the choices the “Ideal You” would have made. The “Ideal You” may be a parent who attends all of the kids’ soccer games. Miss a game to take your dad to the doctor, and you think you’re falling short.

You may have feelings misaligned with the “Ideal You.” Feeling angry about the injustice of your loved one’s illness? You might even feel angry at your loved one for getting sick! Recognizing those feelings can produce a healthy dose of guilt. Yes, you may even feel guilty about feeling guilty.

If you’re the kind of person prone to guilt, learn to manage guilt so that guilt serves you rather than imprisons you. Here are three tips for managing your caregiver guilt:

Recognize the feeling of guilt: Unrecognized guilt eats at your soul. Name it; look at the monster under the bed.

Be compassionate with yourself: Cloudy moods, like cloudy days, come and go. There’s no one way a caregiver should feel. When you give yourself permission to have any feeling, and recognize that your feelings don’t control your actions, your guilt will subside.

Ask for help: Call a friend and say, “I’m going through a hard time. Do you have a few minutes just to listen?” Have a family meeting and say, “Our lives have been a lot different since dad got sick. I’m spending more time with him. Let’s figure out together how we’ll get everything done.”

FamilyMeans Caregiving & Aging is here to support you and your loved ones throughout your caregiving journey. Each situation is different and our staff helps caregivers with their unique story. Call 651-439-4840 or visit our website for more information. 


Classes, Groups, and Events

Caregiver Conference: Journey of a Caregiver

Don't miss this exciting and educational conference for caregivers! Join us for an engaging and informative conference featuring keynote presenter, Karla Hult, founder of So Many Goodbyes and an award-winning journalist, reporter, and anchor for KARE 11. This event is hosted by the Five County Regional Caregiver Coalition.

Friday, September 27 | 8:30pm-3:00pm
New Richmond Conference Center
1019 S Knowles Ave
New Richmond, MN WI 54017

Learn More and Register

Caring for the Caregiver

Join us to expand your thinking about your caregiving life. Through movement, voice, memories, and stories, caregivers will explore feelings associated with what it means to accept changes, a diagnosis, or new or lost identities. No prior artistic or movement experience needed.

*Free, donations accepted

September 30, October 7 & 14
12:30pm-2:00pm
Forest Lake YMCA
19845 Forest Rd N
Forest Lake, MN 55025

Call 651-439-4840 to Register

Memory Cafés

Connect with others and enjoy conversation with other caregivers and care receivers. Cafés include facilitated conversation and community resources.

Cottage Grove
Woodbury
Lake Elmo
Hugo

Call 651-439-4840 for more information and to register. coffee cup

St. Croix Valley Faith Community Foot Care Clinic & Wellness Event

This event consists of:
Foot Care Appointments (Assessments, Education, Nail Cutting, Toenail Care)
Blood Pressure Checks
Blood Glucose Screenings
Balance and Fall Prevention Screenings
Private Memory Screenings with FamilyMeans Caregiving & Aging

Thursday, October 10th
Trinity Lutheran Church
115 4th St N
Stillwater, MN 55082

View Flyer HERE


We look forward to connecting with you!

Please call the Caregiving & Aging team at 651-439-4840 if you have any questions about program offerings.