The formal role of family caregiver sneaks up on most people and may only be acknowledged and accepted in the wake of a crisis.  The label “Family Caregiver” is likely first uttered by a health professional or social worker wanting to talk with the family member who will accept the primary role in providing the additional coordination, care, and attention that will be needed to aid in recovery in the wake of a medical crisis.  It is often only then that a person acknowledges the very important role that they play for their family.  This was certainly the turning point for me following the unexpected hospitalization of my mother-in-law.  

Up to this point, I was simply a daughter taking care of my sick mother, a mother caring for my newborn daughter following her stay in the special care nursery, a daughter-in-law assisting my aging in-laws with tasks around their house, and a wife helping my husband recover from a long illness.  But, when a healthcare professional asked me who the “primary family caregiver” was in preparation for my mother-in-law’s discharge from the hospital, I finally realized the critically important role I played in our family.  Recognizing that I was actually a sandwich generation caregiver since I was still caring for my own children while also providing care and support for our aging parents was actually a bit overwhelming.  So, I wanted to make sure I was doing everything I could to succeed at the caregiving tasks and stay sane! 

Whether you are dealing with the everyday responsibilities of managing your busy family or shouldering the extra challenges of an unexpected medical crisis, below are 3 important next steps that I recommend you take to help set yourself up for success!