Singletary: Provide assistance to caregiver for holidays

Then the friend turns to the husband-caregiver before driving off and says, “Just let me know what I can do to help.”

This is what we say when you don’t know what to do.

In the next scene in the video, which is just over a minute long, the husband faces the camera. What follows brilliantly captures the challenge of being a caregiver.

“Well, to help me, she’d have to help every day,” the husband says. “Every hour. Every ‘ouch.’ Every time my wife calls for help. I mean, maybe she could help make her lunch. But the crust — all the crust — has to be cut off the corners. She could help me run to the doctor for the fifth time this week. Help me with the specialists and the second opinions and the painful paperwork about paperwork.

“Help me deal with how hard it is seeing my wife’s name on so much paperwork. But this is on me. I am the only one that can do this, like this, for her. Besides, Janet doesn’t like her cooking anyway.”

The announcer in a voice-over tells people to visit AARP.org/caregiving or call 877-333-5885 for support.

I’ve been hearing from so many caregivers, and their stories both inspire and break my heart. They are unsung hero and heroines caring for either one or sometimes both parents.

There was Dorothy, whose father came to live with her family after his wife died. He could no longer live alone because of his memory loss. She found a daytime program where her father could go while she worked from home.

Dorothy says she lost sleep and couldn’t find the time to exercise. Her father eventually had to be moved to an assisted-living facility. He died a year ago at 91. “You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do, the best way you can.”

Here’s how to go beyond the platitude of “Just let me know what you need.”

• Ask with a plan. Don’t offer help like this: “I can come relieve you whenever you want.” Instead say, “I’m free on Wednesday from noon to 3 p.m. to give you some relief. Does that work for you?”

• Listen for clues of how you can help. In the “Help” video, the husband described being a chauffeur and cook. Bring a meal. And sometimes just helping drop off and pick up at a doctor’s appointment is a big relief for a caregiver.

• Share calendars. When you’re busy doing, you often don’t share what needs to be done. On AARP.org, search for “Apps to Help Caregivers Stay Organized.”

• Help with the homework. Don’t say, “There are a lot of resources for caregivers.” Instead say, “I’ve researched some elder-care programs, and here’s a list.”

• Use a holiday visit to assess what needs to be done. Come prepared not to be a guest but a surrogate caregiver.

Let’s help caregivers change their internal dialogue. They shouldn’t have to go it alone.