Staying Connected as a Family Caregiver
This month we honor and recognize the family caregivers across the country. In the United States, families provide the main support for both older adults and people with disabilities. It is not uncommon for caregivers to both work a job and provide care simultaneously, often resulting in burnout from the conflict between responsibilities. Additionally, studies have shown that caregiving can have an emotional, physical, and financial toll on the caregiver.
One way to build emotional and physical health is by connecting with others. Here are a few Hello4Health™ resources and ideas for caregivers to increase their social connectedness:
- Exercise with others – not just for your physical health but also for your social health.
- Set up a weekly walk, phone call, or coffee shop meet up with fellow caregivers in your life. Connecting with individuals who are in similar situations as you can bring both support into your life and serve as a reminder that you are not alone in your caregiving journey.
- Video chat to bring more connections into your daily life when distance may prevent you or the person you are caring for from being able to connect with loved ones.
- Connect with someone with memory loss using these tips.
- Explore more ways to connect with the older adults in your life.
Learn more about National Family Caregivers Month.
Native American Heritage Month
Each year, the month of November is recognized as National Native American Heritage Month. This month honors the significant contributions that Native Americans have made and raises awareness of the challenges that Native/Indigenous people have historically faced and continue to face. Learn more about Native American Heritage Month and how you can get involved.
Well-Being Resources for All Ages
Did you know Allina Health offers mental health and wellness resources for individuals of all ages? You’re probably most familiar with Hello4Health™, which focuses on social connections for adults, but we’ve got two other initiatives for parents, kids or teens. Explore the resources and skill-building activities below.
Health Powered Kids focuses on youth ages 3-14 with lesson plans to help kids be active, keep clean, find balance and eat well.
Change to Chill focuses on youth ages 13-19 with resources to help teens become more aware of what is causing them stress and how to manage it.