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A Caregiver's Bill of Rights
(Author Unknown)
I have the right:
- To take care of myself.
This is not an act of selfishness. It will give me the capability of
taking better care of my relative or loved one.
- To seek help from others
even though my relative may object. I recognize the limits of my own
endurance and strength.
- To maintain facets of my
own life that do not include the person I care for, just as I would
if he or she were healthy. I know that I do everything I reasonably
can for this person and I have the right to do some things just for
myself.
- To get angry, be depressed
and express other difficult feelings occasionally.
- To reject any attempt by
my relative (either conscious or unconscious) to manipulate me through
guilt, anger or depression.
- To receive consideration,
affection, forgiveness and acceptance for what I do from my beloved
one for as long as I offer these qualities in return.
- To take pride in what I
am accomplishing and to applaud the courage it has sometimes taken to
meet the needs of my relative.
- To protect my individuality
and my right to make a life for myself that will sustain me in the time
when my relative no longer needs my full-time help.
- To expect and demand that
as new strides are made in finding resources to aid physically and mentally
impaired people in our country, similar strides will be made toward
aiding and supporting caregivers.
- Add your own statement
of rights to this list. Read the list to yourself everyday.
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