Coordinating friends and extended family members into an effective care group to support and assist
Friends and family members want to be there, to help, but often do not know
what they can do or how to go about doing it. They worry that they may not say
or do the right thing. They ask if there is something they can do...Perhaps you
say "nothing"- Perhaps you tell them that you're "okay"- Perhaps you wonder how
could you burden your friends with your problems. However, given the
opportunity, most people want to help- if only they knew what to do and you
accepted the help they are offering. Given the opportunity, right tools and
information, your friends and family members could be organized into a valuable
source of support, help and comfort to you. Some examples of what your friends
could do...They can:
- prepare or send a meal for your family especially after a long day of
doctor's appointments or testing.
- pick up a prescription for you from the pharmacy or your groceries from the
store.
- play a game or read to your child so that you may take a bath or a nap.
- pick up your child's school work from his/her school
- tend to your other children by bringing them to their after school
activities/functions, help maintain their routines, and help keep their lives as
normal and as least disruptive as possbile.
- go with you to a doctor's appointment for support, take notes, act as
another 'set of ears' or help you make decisions based upon the information you
receive
- bring clothing, toiletries or other items to the hospital for you or
otherwise sit with your child so you can take a break or otherwise run an errand
or go home
- watch or care for your pets for you
A "caregiving group" can meet many of your ancillary needs by individuals who
choose to do something they feel comfortable doing and devote only that amount
of time they are able to devote.
Spencer Crawford Children's Foundation, Inc can help organize your friends
and family into a personal caregiving group tailored to suit you and your
family's needs. Utilizing the "Share The Care" model designed by Sheila Warnock
and Cappy Capossela, we organize your friends and family to provide physical and
emotional support to those individuals caring for your ill child. The "Share The
Care" model has been used successfully all over the world to assist individuals
caring for adults. With permission of Sheila Warnock and the Board of Directors
of the sharethecargiving,inc., Spencer Crawford Children's Foundation, Inc., is
applying the 'Share The Care' model to assist individuals caring for potentially
terminally ill children and their families.
Using the "Share The Care" model, we:
- gather your friends and family members who express an interest in helping
- with your input and that of your child (age depending), we assist your
friends and family members in developing a caregiving schedule that meets the
needs and situation of your family
- guide your friends and family in setting up and running the caregiver group
The "Share The Care" model is designed to allow your friends and family
members that want to help, to help and provides them with effective, flexible
organizational tools.
To learn more about the "Share The Care" model developed by Sheila Warnock
and Cappy Capossela, you may purchase the Share The Care book by visiting our
website's on-line bookstore or click on www.sharethecaregiving.org
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