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Our caregivers are essential to us, and looking out for their well-being is paramount. For this reason, we implore you to care for yourself as much as you care for our clients. Last year we offered our caregivers 8 Ways to Avoid Caregiver Burnout. However, the stresses of all that 2020 has brought us requires more than avoiding mental fatigue. We recognize that self-care is an active part of caregiving, so we've put together this list of things you can do to care for the most valued caregiver, YOU!

This year our memory care program, True Bridge, started participating in The Gratitude Project. The idea behind this project is for clients and caregivers to "Take 5 minutes each day and write down, record, or draw 3 things for which you are grateful."

Although there is no clear origin as to how journaling gratitude began, it is a concept that has been around for almost 20 years. "The research behind gratitude is very clear; having a simple and regular gratitude practice can have surprising, profound effects on our lives," says Dr. Lauren Tober in this video.

During these unprecedented times, we have seen many come to the call of helping those in need. Our city has changed and so is who we call heroes. Heroes care for others as if they’re family. For the countless amount of people who may not have anyone else to turn to— They do grocery runs, fill prescriptions, and enter the city streets so we, the vulnerable don’t have to. They are our neighbors, our friends, our relatives. 

Home health care is a growing industry. With the onset of an aging population and ever-increasing hospital rates and fees, it is no wonder families have turned to in-home care to address the needs of their loved ones. However, this does not come without an increase in risk factors either.  “Home health aides employed by agencies have a reported incidence rate of 15.3 nonfatal illnesses and injuries per 100 workers, compared with 3.9 per 100 workers employed in the health care private sector, such as physician’s offices” according to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).

Last month we announced True Care’s cooperation with the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America as part of their Artist in Residency Program generously supported by a grant from the Louis & June Kay Foundation. True Bridge -True Care’s memory care program dedicated to empower, encourage, and engage individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other cognitive impairments- sponsored a four-week workshop under the instruction of Jodie Berman CTRS, True Care's Director of Programs and Engagement.

We at True Care take sincere pleasure each year in coming up with different ways to show our caregivers how much we appreciate them, not only in November (National Caregiver Appreiciation Month) but year round. We’d like to share some of this insight with you on how you too can show your caregiver how grateful you are for the care they offer each day.