It is important for both the caregiver and care recipient to willingly accept help that is offered by the informal network. Make a list of who you can count on for support. Not only will you know who to call when you need help, it will also be a comfort against the isolation you feel. Involving children in a supporting caregiver role can teach them about family and about compassion. Though children should not be asked to carry inappropriate responsibilities, children of all ages bring concrete skills and abilities that many adults have lost or forgotten.
Children know how easy it is draw pictures of rainbows and beaches.
Playing make believe or making up a new song are second nature to kids. Children who read, or are learning to read, can bring daily joy to an elder confined to the home. Likewise, elders can give children the gift of stories about a long time ago. Employers are increasingly offering flexible scheduling to help a caregiver meet responsibilities outside of work. For employees who need to be with the care recipient more than a typical work week allows, there is the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.