R ecognize that the caregiver's age, gender, personality and past relationship with the care recipient all influence the caregiving experience. S peak up when you don't have the answer. Refer the caregiver to someone who does know the answer if you don't. Remember, no one person has all the answers. T ry getting the family together when there is a conflict, a lack of understanding or a need to plan for the future.
Family meetings are a good time to assess and assign individual family members' responsibilities.
U se words and phrases that caregivers understand. Avoid clinical jargon. V alidate the caregiver's feelings of grief, relief, joy and frustration. W rite it down. A clearly written note or reminder can be helpful for caregivers who have difficulty hearing, remembering and understanding.