How Naperville-area caregivers for veterans can learn to care for themselves
When Mike Barbour sits in the waiting room at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, he's nearly moved to tears.
Men and women, caregivers for ailing veterans, show "dedication and love and kindness" that the Naperville veteran and service officer for the local VFW and American Legion says is unbelievable.
"You talk about what love is," Barbour says. "There are occasions when I have to tear up."
So inspired by love and dedication, caregivers often take their selfless support too far, says Jillian Inserra, caregiver support coordinator at Hines VA.
"A lot of times when you're taking care of a veteran full-time, you focus on their care so often that you kind of forget about your own care," Inserra says.
Simple things go by the wayside. Eating healthy, getting enough sleep, relieving stress, exercising - these helpful habits can be quickly forgotten when care for a wounded or sick veteran comes first, Inserra says.
That's why the Hines VA caregiver support program is bringing a Self-Care for Family Caregivers workshop to Naperville. The free program, set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, March 30, will focus on two topics: taking care of yourself and managing stress, Inserra says, with a take-home workbook and in-class exercises to drive each point home.
Attendees who are caring for veterans in their families will learn techniques to preserve their physical and mental health and what to do when they feel like they're getting too stressed out. They'll practice journaling, meditation and relaxation and learn about the value of respite breaks and surrounding themselves with support.
While caring for any ailing or disabled relative is a challenging labor of love, Inserra says the task takes on new layers when a veteran - potentially carrying the scars of combat - is involved.
"The caregiver experience is unique in that more of the veterans are experiencing both physical and mental health challenges that the caregiver has to help care for," Inserra says. "Our family members also tend to care for our veterans for a long period of time."
Barbour says that care is vital for veterans like him. After serving in the Army in Vietnam from December 1967 to December 1968, he returned home and suffered from post-traumatic stress for 43 years before getting help. He says his wife, Janet, who encouraged him to seek treatment, refers to herself as his "wingman."
"Caregivers are a very important part of the process," Barbour says. "The whole healing, treatment process."
The VA's caregiver support program assists caregivers every three months with an educational or supportive event. But Inserra says the March 30 presentation will be the first time the agency has hosted the Self-Care for Family Caregivers workshop outside a VA facility, such as Hines hospital or the DuPage County Vet Center in Aurora.
The program is free to the first 50 caregivers who sign up. Lunch and workbooks are provided. To register, contact Inserra at (708) 202-2643 or jillian.inserra@va.gov.