Robin Bradley found support from the caregiver centers when her husband James needed critical heart surgery and was a patient at White Plains Hospital, Moses Campus and Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. The caregiver support centers became a home for three months to Robin where she received expert emotional support in her new role as wife/caregiver.
“As a midwife, I’d heard dismissals of the importance of hand-holding in medicine,” said Robin. “But care of the soul, helping to give families the emotional strength to keep going and a place to recover and restore ourselves, is a priceless gift in a hospital that performs medical miracles.” Throughout the critical hours in the Cardiac Care Unit, the nine days following surgery to place a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in a heart so badly damaged that a successful outcome wasn’t guaranteed, and the two and a half months of James’ physical restoration, Robin cherished the center’s unwavering support.
“The support team, led by Randi Kaplan, listened, made phone calls on our behalf and provided a safe place to express my fears, anger and, finally, incredible joy. They provided this care not only for me but for my children as well, each in their own space,” said Robin Bradley.
To help support family members in caring for loved ones, the Montefiore Einstein Caregiver Support Centers offer the following tips for caregivers.
10 Tips for Caregivers
- Connect to others: Seek support and avoid isolation by connecting with your support system and other caregivers.
- Ask for and accept help: Take note of what you require help with and who can help you with those tasks. Ask for assistance from friends, family and your community, and seek professional help if needed.
- Respite: Take some time off from caretaking. Respite breaks don’t have to be long periods of time. Make it manageable. Look into professional respite services if a long break is needed. Caregiving is challenging at times.
- Educate yourself: Knowledge is power. Learn about your loved one’s disease or condition.
- Give yourself credit and practice self-care: Acknowledge all the things you are doing. Take care of yourself mentally, physically and spiritually. Seek your own medical care. Know the symptoms of depression.
- Investigate resources: Be knowledgeable of the options and services available in your community.
- Voice your concerns: Learn how to communicate with your loved one’s medical providers, as well as your own medical providers.
- Engage in something pleasurable: Engage in an old hobby or explore something new. Do something that makes you happy and fulfilled.
- Recognize: You are doing the best you can. Be kind to yourself.
- Stay organized: Be organized with your loved one’s medical care and services. Be open to the use of technology to help.
Additional information is available about our Caregiver Support Centers at Montefiore Medical Center, Burke Marsal Caregiver Center and White Plains Hospital.
