UCDD Providing Web Series for Caregivers

The Upper Cumberland Development District and Area Agency on Aging and Disability are creating a series of videos to help people caring for their loved ones.

Family Caregiver Coordinator Clare Farless said the Caring Corner videos stem from the challenges of getting caregivers together for support groups during the pandemic. Farless said she hopes the videos will be the extra tool for caregivers to learn about dealing with burnout and depression.

“Caregivers are selfless, you know they put their loved one in front of their own care,” Farless said. “One of the challenges that we have, and caregivers have is getting respite, so getting that short break so they can regenerate.”

Farless said upcoming videos will focus on the journey of care giving for people new to the role and a November video about handling the holidays. Farless said the pandemic could exacerbate feelings a caregiver might already have.

“How you handle already being socially isolated normally,” Farless said. “Even for those family events you’re gonna have to be socially isolated.”

Farless said many care givers do not realize health problems, like memory loss, they experience are coming from feelings of depression. Farless said providing a voice to the struggles of care giving can help with admitting there are challenges.

“You ask a caregiver how they’re doing, they’re just gonna tell you they’re doing fine,” Farless said. “They don’t want to admit to someone that they’re having a hard time, so a lot of times the challenges they’re experiencing are unspoken.”

Caregivers can follow this series on the UCDD Facebook page. The videos are also being posted to YouTube under UC Connect.