It is OK to Ask For Help

When our family is involved, we seem to think that we should inherently know what to do to help them. It doesn’t matter if they need assistance in an area that we don’t have any experience with, we just seem to think we should be able to figure it out anyway because it is our family member. Love will find a way.

However, we don’t have to put so much pressure on ourselves. Asking for help doesn’t mean we don’t love and care about our family member. On the contrary, it can mean that because we love and care about our family member, we want to take advantage of the expertise that lies beyond our personal experience.

Help can come in many forms. In aging and long-term care situations, it can mean turning to the expertise of a geriatric care manager. In an end of life situation, it can mean calling on the employees and volunteers of Hospice. In an emotionally wrenching situation, it can mean calling upon a trusted clergy member.

The key is to not let guilt or unrealistic expectations of your family duty keep you from seeking out the support you need and the assistance your family member needs. There are people who devote a good deal of their lives to training to assist in the kinds of situations you face. Do yourself and your family member a favor and take guilt free advantage of their training and ask for help. It is OK.