Today I want to point out a resource that is available for caregivers. It is called the “Circle of Care Guidebook”, and it can be downloaded for free on NAMI’s website at https://www.nami.org/About-NAMI/Publications-Reports/Guides/Circle-of-Care-Guidebook. NAMI worked with the National Alliance for Caregiving to create this guide.
The guidebook is a little over 50 pages long, but it has many different sections, so you can pick and choose what is important to you if you don’t want to read the entire guide. It is important to note that the guide is for family, friends, or others who care for an adult with a mental health condition. Topics covered include finding a compatible provider, communicating with health care workers, making sure you have an accurate diagnosis, discharge planning from a facility, dealing with health insurance, looking into community services that may be available, working with the criminal justice system, planning ahead for the future, confidentiality and involving the family, and self-care.
Personally, I think it is great to have a guide like this available. I assume a lot of caregivers would appreciate having help in navigating their roles and responsibilities. As a lot of us have come to realize, understanding the healthcare system and insurance can be challenging, even if you are not faced with a mental health condition. And, from what I have seen over the last few years, there is more emphasis being placed on the well-being of caregivers, and I think that is very important. Everyone needs to be cared for, whether it is by others or by themselves.
How about you? What are your thoughts on this guide? Does it give you some helpful information? Is it missing important pieces that would be helpful for you to know? I hope you will take some time to download and review the guide to see if it can be helpful to you or someone you know.