Supports in Community, at Home and Online
Everyone needs time with other people.
It’s so important that you and the person you’re caring for don’t get isolated. Unfortunately, as people age in place, they can lose touch with friends. This is especially true if they use a wheelchair or have mobility or health problems that make it hard to do the things they used to enjoy — like going to a senior center, place of worship, or social club. That’s why you need a plan to help the person you’re caring for stay connected with family and friends.
And this is true for you as a caregiver, too. You need to spend time with other people. It can help to make a simple “map” of the people in your life — friends, family, and community — and how each one helps you and the person you care for. This can also show you where you need more help. Try this mapping exercise.
Use a group text or an app on your phone to stay connected to the people supporting you in your caregiving.
Practical and Emotional Supports
You may be caring for your loved one at home because you want to or because you have no other choice. Either way, it’s important you have support for what you are doing to keep your loved one safe and at home.
Support Groups for You and the Person You Care for
Home Safety
To make sure your loved one stays at home and avoids a nursing facility, it’s important to make sure the home is safe. And, for safety, that he or she has a way to call for help in case of an accident.
Some things to think about:
- Are the rooms you’re the person you’re caring for uses clutter-free?
- Do stairs have handrails the person can use?
- Is the room, apartment or house adequately heated in the winter and cooled in the summer?
- Will the older adult be able to use the shower? Are there grab bars in the shower? Can he or she step over the side of the bathtub?
- Is there space for equipment such as a hospital bed and oxygen tanks if needed and do you know how to get and pay for them?
- Can area rugs and electric cords be removed to prevent accidents?
- If the care receiver needed to call for help from home, is there a way to do so?
- In case of fire, does the care receiver or the caregiver have an exit plan in place? Or a plan for what happens after the fire?
- In case of a fall, is there a plan in place?
Check for Safety: This list helps identify areas of the home that may present a risk of falling. A Home Falls Prevention checklist for Older Adults (CDC)
If safety at home is a concern for any reason, contact: ALTSD’s Adult Protective Services
When Things Get Very Hard
Sometimes, no matter how well you prepare, you may reach a breaking point. There are resources to help
- The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers (RCI) has partnered with Crisis Text Line to offer free, 24/7 text-based mental health support. This service helps millions of caregivers each year. Together, RCI and Crisis Text Line want to help caregivers handle the stress and demands of caring for others. If you’re a caregiver who needs help — or just wants someone to talk to — text TOUGH to 741741, any time of day or night.
- Whatever you’re facing, you don’t have to go through it alone—support is available, right here in New Mexico. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, struggling with stress, or just need someone to talk to, trained professionals are ready to listen—24/7, free, and completely confidential. Created by New Mexicans for New Mexicans. Call 988 for NMCAL