Stage Four, section 6: Caring for the Stage Four Caregiver

You must take time to care for yourself during your care receiver's last days and after his or her death. Here are suggestions:

• Remain in your support group after your care receiver's death. Besides receiving on-going support from people who know you well, you have your experience as a caregiver to share with newcomers.

• Continue writing in your journal during your care receiver's last months and following his or her death. Sometimes people like to write letters to the deceased person in their journals. Your journal will be a source of solace for you later. Tape recording your thoughts is also an option.

• Continue relaxation and spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, yoga, art, feeding the birds, listening to music, and getting a massage.

• Lighten your schedule to allow quiet times to be alone with your grief.

• Take advantage of community bereavement programs. This may be a short-term group that meets a limited number of times or it may be on-going.

• In Pinellas County, Florida, Bridges Community Bereavement Support is offered by Hospice of the Florida Suncoast to anyone who is grieving. It is not limited to those whose care receivers used Hospice. Call 727-586-4432 or visit their web site, www.thehospice.org.

• Local Funeral Homes such as Moss Feaster and Anderson-McQueen offer grief support programs that assist survivors in adjusting to the loss of a loved one. These programs are available to anyone in the community.

• Resources for bereavement support, even support groups for people who have lost pets, may be included in the 211 database. Call 211. The 211 information line is also a crisis counseling line available twenty-four hours a day.

• Consider grief counseling if you are overcome with grief that interferes with daily living for a long time. Call the Senior Helpline (727-217-8111 or 1-800-861-8111) and ask about bereavement counseling for people any age and Older Americans Act (OAA) counseling of any type for seniors. Free OAA counseling services are available to persons sixty or over. (See Stage Three, Section 1, page 57). Check with your health insurance provider about available counseling.

Next: Memorials to the Deceased.