Hannah Baillie, Editor in Chief, 90Second Caregiver Patrick McGrath, OC, PhD, FRSC, Principal Scientist - 90Second Caregiver
Maintaining friendships
Maintaining friendships...
Keeping friendships
Sometimes, it's what a person doesn’t say that hurts the most. Friends who have been by your side for many years may struggle to support you in your role as a caregiver, especially if they have never experienced caregiving.
Preventing isolation
Your friends might call or text less often when they don’t know what to say or do. This can cause feelings of isolation and loneliness. Make sure to reach out to your friends as often as you can to maintain your friendships.
...
CALL TO ACTION...
Communication
Be open with your friends. Let them know what you are going through. Tell them what you could use help with. Make sure they understand that you’re not avoiding them, you just have a lot more responsibility now. Don't get defensive. They may not understand your situation but try to be understanding for the sake of your friendships.
Little things
While going out for long periods may not be feasible, try to think of the little things you can do to show your friends you care about them. Send texts, give them a call, or drop by to visit when you can. Maintaining relationships will take more effort now that you are a caregiver, but avoiding isolation and loneliness is essential for your mental health.
Lost friends
You may lose contact with some friends. Cherish the friends who support you and let go of the ones who don’t.
Communication
Be open with your friends. Let them know what you are going through. Tell them what you could use help with. Make sure they understand that you’re not avoiding them, you just have a lot more responsibility now. Don't get defensive. They may not understand your situation but try to be understanding for the sake of your friendships.
Little things
While going out for long periods may not be feasible, try to think of the little things you can do to show your friends you care about them. Send texts, give them a call, or drop by to visit when you can. Maintaining relationships will take more effort now that you are a caregiver, but avoiding isolation and loneliness is essential for your mental health.
Lost friends
You may lose contact with some friends. Cherish the friends who support you and let go of the ones who don’t.
Keeping friendships
Sometimes, it's what a person doesn’t say that hurts the most. Friends who have been by your side for many years may struggle to support you in your role as a caregiver, especially if they have never experienced caregiving.
Preventing isolation
Your friends might call or text less often when they don’t know what to say or do. This can cause feelings of isolation and loneliness. Make sure to reach out to your friends as often as you can to maintain your friendships.
Keeping friendships
Sometimes, it's what a person doesn’t say that hurts the most. Friends who have been by your side for many years may struggle to support you in your role as a caregiver, especially if they have never experienced caregiving.
Preventing isolation
Your friends might call or text less often when they don’t know what to say or do. This can cause feelings of isolation and loneliness. Make sure to reach out to your friends as often as you can to maintain your friendships.
CALL TO ACTION
Communication
Be open with your friends. Let them know what you are going through. Tell them what you could use help with. Make sure they understand that you’re not avoiding them, you just have a lot more responsibility now. Don't get defensive. They may not understand your situation but try to be understanding for the sake of your friendships.
Little things
While going out for long periods may not be feasible, try to think of the little things you can do to show your friends you care about them. Send texts, give them a call, or drop by to visit when you can. Maintaining relationships will take more effort now that you are a caregiver, but avoiding isolation and loneliness is essential for your mental health.
Lost friends
You may lose contact with some friends. Cherish the friends who support you and let go of the ones who don’t.
Communication
Be open with your friends. Let them know what you are going through. Tell them what you could use help with. Make sure they understand that you’re not avoiding them, you just have a lot more responsibility now. Don't get defensive. They may not understand your situation but try to be understanding for the sake of your friendships.
Little things
While going out for long periods may not be feasible, try to think of the little things you can do to show your friends you care about them. Send texts, give them a call, or drop by to visit when you can. Maintaining relationships will take more effort now that you are a caregiver, but avoiding isolation and loneliness is essential for your mental health.
Lost friends
You may lose contact with some friends. Cherish the friends who support you and let go of the ones who don’t.
Keeping friendships
Sometimes, it's what a person doesn’t say that hurts the most. Friends who have been by your side for many years may struggle to support you in your role as a caregiver, especially if they have never experienced caregiving.
Preventing isolation
Your friends might call or text less often when they don’t know what to say or do. This can cause feelings of isolation and loneliness. Make sure to reach out to your friends as often as you can to maintain your friendships.
CALL TO ACTION
Communication
Be open with your friends. Let them know what you are going through. Tell them what you could use help with. Make sure they understand that you’re not avoiding them, you just have a lot more responsibility now. Don't get defensive. They may not understand your situation but try to be understanding for the sake of your friendships.
Little things
While going out for long periods may not be feasible, try to think of the little things you can do to show your friends you care about them. Send texts, give them a call, or drop by to visit when you can. Maintaining relationships will take more effort now that you are a caregiver, but avoiding isolation and loneliness is essential for your mental health.
Lost friends
You may lose contact with some friends. Cherish the friends who support you and let go of the ones who don’t.
Communication
Be open with your friends. Let them know what you are going through. Tell them what you could use help with. Make sure they understand that you’re not avoiding them, you just have a lot more responsibility now. Don't get defensive. They may not understand your situation but try to be understanding for the sake of your friendships.
Little things
While going out for long periods may not be feasible, try to think of the little things you can do to show your friends you care about them. Send texts, give them a call, or drop by to visit when you can. Maintaining relationships will take more effort now that you are a caregiver, but avoiding isolation and loneliness is essential for your mental health.
Lost friends
You may lose contact with some friends. Cherish the friends who support you and let go of the ones who don’t.
Keeping friendships
Sometimes, it's what a person doesn’t say that hurts the most. Friends who have been by your side for many years may struggle to support you in your role as a caregiver, especially if they have never experienced caregiving.
Preventing isolation
Your friends might call or text less often when they don’t know what to say or do. This can cause feelings of isolation and loneliness. Make sure to reach out to your friends as often as you can to maintain your friendships.
CALL TO ACTION
Communication
Be open with your friends. Let them know what you are going through. Tell them what you could use help with. Make sure they understand that you’re not avoiding them, you just have a lot more responsibility now. Don't get defensive. They may not understand your situation but try to be understanding for the sake of your friendships.
Little things
While going out for long periods may not be feasible, try to think of the little things you can do to show your friends you care about them. Send texts, give them a call, or drop by to visit when you can. Maintaining relationships will take more effort now that you are a caregiver, but avoiding isolation and loneliness is essential for your mental health.
Lost friends
You may lose contact with some friends. Cherish the friends who support you and let go of the ones who don’t.
Communication
Be open with your friends. Let them know what you are going through. Tell them what you could use help with. Make sure they understand that you’re not avoiding them, you just have a lot more responsibility now. Don't get defensive. They may not understand your situation but try to be understanding for the sake of your friendships.
Little things
While going out for long periods may not be feasible, try to think of the little things you can do to show your friends you care about them. Send texts, give them a call, or drop by to visit when you can. Maintaining relationships will take more effort now that you are a caregiver, but avoiding isolation and loneliness is essential for your mental health.
Lost friends
You may lose contact with some friends. Cherish the friends who support you and let go of the ones who don’t.
ASSESSMENT
Please fill out and submit your assessment.
ASSESSMENT
Please fill out and submit your assessment.
ASSESSMENT
Please fill out and submit your assessment.
assessment, when selecting options, 1 is false, 5 is true.I make an effort to send messages to my friends.please select an option..I am comfortable asking my friends for help.please select an option..My friends are usually willing to help when I ask.please select an option..I have not experienced any changes in friendships since becoming a caregiver.please select an option..I am comfortable leaving the one I care for at home when I go out. please select an option..My friends are up to date on my caregiving situation. please select an option..It is possible to have a social life and be a caregiver. please select an option..
Please submit the form to get your assessment.
Personal Story. Personal Story.
I was 45 years old when my 15-year-old daughter was in a car accident and suffered a brain injury. Up until that moment, we were both well-connected people with active social lives. When she suffered her injury, our friendships took a hit. All of a sudden, we were tossed into this world where no one could really understand what we were going through because a severe brain injury at such a young age is rare. None of my friends had been caregivers before, so they didn’t understand the level of work and dedication it took to keep my daughter healthy. When I stopped calling and texting them, they thought it was because I didn’t want to see them anymore.
Over a few months, I realized that friendships were important to my well-being. I made an effort to send texts to my friends, sometimes about caregiving and sometimes about lighter subjects. I invited them in for tea when possible, and went out as often as I could, although it wasn’t as much as before the injury. After drifting into isolation in the beginning, I realized that maintaining friendships takes a lot of work - but it is so worth it!
Did you find this health letter helpful?...Suggestions for future topics?...Suggestions for improving THIS 90Second issue: ...Overall rating of this health letter issue:...
PERSONAL STORY
I was 45 years old when my 15-year-old daughter was in a car accident and suffered a brain injury. Up until that moment, we were both well-connected people with active social lives. When she suffered her injury, our friendships took a hit. All of a sudden, we were tossed into this world where no one could really understand what we were going through because a severe brain injury at such a young age is rare. None of my friends had been caregivers before, so they didn’t understand the level of work and dedication it took to keep my daughter healthy. When I stopped calling and texting them, they thought it was because I didn’t want to see them anymore.
Over a few months, I realized that friendships were important to my well-being. I made an effort to send texts to my friends, sometimes about caregiving and sometimes about lighter subjects. I invited them in for tea when possible, and went out as often as I could, although it wasn’t as much as before the injury. After drifting into isolation in the beginning, I realized that maintaining friendships takes a lot of work - but it is so worth it!
RATE OUR HEALTH LETTER
Shiba K, Kondo N, Kondo K. Informal and Formal Social Support and Caregiver Burden: The AGES Caregiver Survey. J Epidemiol. 2016 Dec 5;26(12):622-628. doi: 10.2188/jea.JE20150263. Epub 2016 May 14. PMID: 27180934; PMCID: PMC5121430.
Li L, Wister AV, Mitchell B. Social Isolation Among Spousal and Adult-Child Caregivers: Findings From the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2021 Aug 13;76(7):1415-1429. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbaa197. PMID: 33170276; PMCID: PMC8363033.
PERSONAL STORY
I was 45 years old when my 15-year-old daughter was in a car accident and suffered a brain injury. Up until that moment, we were both well-connected people with active social lives. When she suffered her injury, our friendships took a hit. All of a sudden, we were tossed into this world where no one could really understand what we were going through because a severe brain injury at such a young age is rare. None of my friends had been caregivers before, so they didn’t understand the level of work and dedication it took to keep my daughter healthy. When I stopped calling and texting them, they thought it was because I didn’t want to see them anymore.
Over a few months, I realized that friendships were important to my well-being. I made an effort to send texts to my friends, sometimes about caregiving and sometimes about lighter subjects. I invited them in for tea when possible, and went out as often as I could, although it wasn’t as much as before the injury. After drifting into isolation in the beginning, I realized that maintaining friendships takes a lot of work - but it is so worth it!
RATE OUR HEALTH LETTER
Shiba K, Kondo N, Kondo K. Informal and Formal Social Support and Caregiver Burden: The AGES Caregiver Survey. J Epidemiol. 2016 Dec 5;26(12):622-628. doi: 10.2188/jea.JE20150263. Epub 2016 May 14. PMID: 27180934; PMCID: PMC5121430.
Li L, Wister AV, Mitchell B. Social Isolation Among Spousal and Adult-Child Caregivers: Findings From the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2021 Aug 13;76(7):1415-1429. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbaa197. PMID: 33170276; PMCID: PMC8363033.
PERSONAL STORY
I was 45 years old when my 15-year-old daughter was in a car accident and suffered a brain injury. Up until that moment, we were both well-connected people with active social lives. When she suffered her injury, our friendships took a hit. All of a sudden, we were tossed into this world where no one could really understand what we were going through because a severe brain injury at such a young age is rare. None of my friends had been caregivers before, so they didn’t understand the level of work and dedication it took to keep my daughter healthy. When I stopped calling and texting them, they thought it was because I didn’t want to see them anymore.
Over a few months, I realized that friendships were important to my well-being. I made an effort to send texts to my friends, sometimes about caregiving and sometimes about lighter subjects. I invited them in for tea when possible, and went out as often as I could, although it wasn’t as much as before the injury. After drifting into isolation in the beginning, I realized that maintaining friendships takes a lot of work - but it is so worth it!
RATE OUR HEALTH LETTER
Shiba K, Kondo N, Kondo K. Informal and Formal Social Support and Caregiver Burden: The AGES Caregiver Survey. J Epidemiol. 2016 Dec 5;26(12):622-628. doi: 10.2188/jea.JE20150263. Epub 2016 May 14. PMID: 27180934; PMCID: PMC5121430.
Li L, Wister AV, Mitchell B. Social Isolation Among Spousal and Adult-Child Caregivers: Findings From the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2021 Aug 13;76(7):1415-1429. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbaa197. PMID: 33170276; PMCID: PMC8363033.
