Most of us are writing down notes all the time: shopping lists, appointments, meetings, to-do reminders, events…the list goes on and on. If you’re a family caregiver, you have even more reasons for writing while you manage another person’s life in addition to your own.
Caregiver journaling helps to keep all of the important information for your loved one in one concise location. However, we recommend taking it a step further by utilizing two journals for two specific purposes which are equally important to your caregiving role.
A Journal for Organizing
This particular journal is a great tool for keeping everything related to a senior loved one’s health and wellness in one place. Include:
- Any changes in condition
- Information regarding any concerning symptoms and what might be impacting them (i.e, Dad has been feeling fatigued recently; it seems worse on the days that he skips a mid-morning snack)
- A list of any questions you need to remember to ask the doctor (along with their recommendations and answers)
- Prescriptions being taken and any possible side effects the older adult may be dealing with
- Contact info for doctors’ offices, the pharmacy, etc.
Bring the caregiver journal with you to each doctor’s appointment so that you will have the information you’ll need at your fingertips.
A Journal for Venting
Looking after your mental health is vital to providing the best care for a loved one. A private journal just for venting your feelings and thoughts can be very helpful, as research shows that recording our experiences decreases our risk for depression. This journal is solely for your eyes only. There is no right or wrong strategy to how or what you jot down, but these tips might help:
- Do not censor your thoughts or concern yourself with proper grammar – just let your thoughts flow.
- Refrain from any self-judgment; the goal is simply to empty the contents of your mind.
- Include drawings or doodles if you would like.
- Write as often as you want, but only review what you’ve written after a period of time has passed, enabling you the opportunity to gain some emotional distance from your thoughts.
- Unsure where to start? These prompts might help.
There are many different techniques to keeping journals; select what works best for you!
- Traditional pen-and-paper notes
- Computerized documents
- Specialized caregiving apps, such as:
Independence-4-Seniors Home Care provides home care to Hinsdale and the surrounding area. Our knowledgeable caregivers are available to offer regular respite care services to allow you as much time as you need to spend in journal writing and any other activities you love that help restore and refresh you. Contact us online or at (630) 323-4665 for more information.