By Stephan G. Wiet, Ph.D.

As a psychologist working in the healthcare field for the last twenty years, I have been blessed with the opportunity to watch and listen to many people as they discuss their problems and attempt to find solutions to their healthcare needs. Working with research and development teams, my job is to translate what I see and hear into new products and services that better address the “jobs to be done.” 

One of the things my research has helped to identify is how caregivers can prepare for and perform all their caregiving duties.  The solutions that can help caregivers are identified in the “Caregiver Needs Pyramid” below:

The Caregiver Needs Pyramid

The Four Parts of the Pyramid

The Caregiver Needs Pyramid contains four parts. The bottom part of the pyramid is the foundation, whereas the top represents the ultimate goal, which is time for you (without compromising the healthcare needs of your loved one).

Help Me Make Better Decisions

The pyramid’s foundation refers to things that help caregivers make better, faster, and more appropriate decisions for their unique situation. Without this foundation, caregivers may find that they simply don’t have the time to do everything that needs to be done, and that they are constantly playing catch-up.

As a caregiver, you are constantly searching for answers to legal, medical, healthcare professional and financial questions.  Since you have little time to find answers to these questions, you need to obtain this information as quickly as possible. Did you know that more than 75% of people who care for their older parents or relatives also have children under 18 living at home?  More than 50% of caregivers are employed full time. One example of a resource that enables caregivers with serious time restraints to find information fast is a Website such as this one, www.strengthforcaring.com. Make sure to take advantage of all the resources available, as they can help you to make informed decisions, quickly.

Simplify My Life

Moving up the pyramid, the next need for caregivers is simplification. The need for simplification can be stated quite simply; with all the unique jobs you as a caregiver have to do, and the fact that you never seem to have enough time to them all, it is sometimes necessary to take a step back and just take a deep breath. The writer Thoreau had it right. Simplify, simplify, simplify. Figure out the things that absolutely must be done, and do those first. Don’t try to do everything at once. You can’t, and you’ll just cause yourself more stress. Do the important things. You’ll find that often the other things will sort themselves out. 

Of course, you should always be on the lookout for products and services that will help you fulfill your duties more quickly and easily.

A caregiver may need to brush the teeth of a bed-confined care recipient, or bathe a loved one with limited mobility.  Once again, look for products and solutions that will help you perform these tasks quickly and effectively. Some services that can help you simplify are home delivery of groceries and healthcare products, and cost-effective transportation such as senior community buses or vans.  These services are there to help you. Use them. The less complicated each task that a caregiver performs is, the easier it is for the caregiver to move up to the next step on the pyramid: peace of mind.

Peace of Mind

When the caregiver feels that the needs of their care recipient are being met (they have the information they need to make better decisions and they have found solutions for simplifying their life and daily tasks), the caregiver’s needs tend to shift from the needs of their loved one to their own needs. Some caregivers never reach this point, but it is absolutely vital for a caregiver to take care of themselves in order to provide the best care to their loved ones.

When a caregiver’s own needs are taken care of, it is at this stage in the pyramid that peace of mind can occur. Peace of mind refers to the caregivers’ ability to “connect” with their care recipient from a distance.  Knowing that their loved one is safe and is receiving proper care in their absence can reduce stress and allow caregivers the opportunity to focus guilt-free on other demands, such as work or other family members. Sometimes this stage is only possible when the caregiver has additional help or support systems, such as an eldercare community center, or a visiting healthcare professional.

Time for Me

Perhaps the greatest unmet need among caregivers, although infrequently stated voluntarily, is finding personal time for themselves.  This need occupies the top of the pyramid, and reflects the importance of maintaining one’s own health while managing the health of others.  Over 90% of caregivers say they need more help managing their emotions.  Caregiving takes a toll both physically and emotionally.  Solutions that allow personal time and pampering occasions for the caregiver result in healthier, more emotionally stable care providers.  A net positive effect on the care recipient is also likely to occur.  The message here is simple: find time for yourself.

The caregiver pyramid offers a framework to help caregivers identify unmet needs and review potential solutions to address their needs. 

My future columns will focus on each need in greater depth, and will provide some examples of how innovation and technology are finally beginning to meet the needs of a heroic group of individuals: caregivers just like you.