Senior Voice -

Hospice of Anchorage understands that being a caregiver is an important job. You shoulder many responsibilities caring for a friend or relative who is seriously ill. This summer, we are celebrating the caregivers in our community with our Care for the Carer campaign.

Each month we are giving out 100 Care for the Carer boxes, each filled with caregiving resources, an assortment of coupons, and various self-care items. Each month's packages are different, so we encourage caregivers to treat themselves to a new box each month.

To request a box, please call our office at 907-561-5322, or stop in to see us at 2612 E. Northern Lights Blvd. in Anchorage. We are in the brown house behind the First Congregational Church.

Caregiveraction.org offers these 10 tips to caregivers:

Seek support from other caregivers. You are not alone.

Take care of your own health so that you can be strong enough to take care of your loved one.

Accept offers of help and suggest specific things people can do to help you.

Learn how to communicate effectively with doctors.

Be open to new technologies that can help you care for your loved one.

Watch out for signs of depression, and don't delay getting professional help when you need it.

Caregiving is hard work so take respite breaks often.

Organize medical information, so it's easy to find.

Make sure legal documents are in order.

Give yourself credit for doing the best you can in one of the toughest jobs there is!

If you have a question about caregiving or want to know more about how we can help, don't hesitate to get in touch with us at 907-561-5322 or info@hospiceofanchorage.org.

Amy Tribbett is the Hospice of Anchorage executive director.