Getting Help From Your Community

How and why should I accept help from others?

Being a parent of a child who has experienced cardiac arrest can be a challenging and overwhelming experience. While many people may offer help to parents, it can be difficult to accept assistance from others. In this resource guide, we will discuss the importance of accepting help from friends and family, the benefits of doing so for the parents and the child needing care, and practical tips on asking for help. We also understand that the main caregiver of a child survivor may not always be the parents. Still, these learnings apply to siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and close friends involved in the care and may feel overwhelmed.

The importance of accepting help

When caring for a pediatric cardiac arrest survivor, parents may feel obligated to handle all aspects of care by themselves, as well as continue their pre-arrest commitments and responsibilities. However, accepting help from friends and family can lead to better outcomes for the parent and the child survivor. By sharing the caregiving responsibilities, the parent can reduce stress, improve their well-being, and provide better care for their child.

For more information on the importance of accepting help, visit Family Caregiver Alliance.

Benefits of accepting help from the other parent or family members

Accepting help can provide several benefits for the parent providing caregiving, including:

• • Reduced stress: Sharing caregiving responsibilities can alleviate stress and prevent caregiver burnout.
  • Better work-life balance: Accepting help can allow parents to maintain their professional and personal lives while providing care.
  • Improved mental and physical health: parents who accept help are less likely to experience negative health effects associated with chronic stress.
  • Support for the entire family: The emotional impact of caregiving affects the entire family, and accepting help can provide much-needed support for all members.

Benefits of accepting help for the person needing care

For the older child survivor, accepting help from parents and others can lead to:

• • Improved quality of life: Receiving care from multiple sources can improve the child’s quality of life through increased support and attention.
  • Enhanced social connections: Involving friends and family in caregiving can help maintain social connections for the child.

Practical tips on asking for and accepting help

When accepting help, it is essential to communicate your needs and delegate tasks effectively. Though it may feel uncomfortable, accepting help is good for you, your child, and the person offering their assistance. Here are some practical tips for asking for help:

• • Be specific: Clearly outline the tasks you need help with and the time commitment required.
  • Prioritize: Determine which tasks are most critical and delegate them accordingly.
  • Create a support network: Develop a group of friends and family who can provide ongoing support and assistance.

Here are some practical tips for when people offer to help:

• • Think of tasks that they can perform from start to finish.
  • Try to keep a list of household tasks that need doing.
  • Offer them two or three options to choose from. This can help them find something they think they are capable of doing well for you.
  • If you feel awkward asking for help or overwhelmed with the task of responding to people, consider asking a trusted person to serve as your “help coordinator.” Have that person manage other people’s offers for help and answer their questions about what they can do to be helpful.

Parent insight: “I regret not accepting more help at first and for not asking for more help later. I was so overwhelmed at first that I didn’t even know how to accept the help, and then I had too much shame later on to ask for it – it is so silly. People asked to help because they love me and they love my child. In hindsight, I know that the unintended consequence of my not accepting help was that my support people felt pushed away, and we inevitably felt more distant as time went on. My advice for others is, if people offer something specific, just accept it gratefully. If people offer to help but don’t offer something in particular, ask them to come up with something themselves. Or ask them to perform your usual chores and tasks like meals or yard work.”

Examples of things other caregivers/parents have valued receiving help with

• • Being the point person to keep extended friends and family informed (if appropriate)
  • Receiving a pre-made meal
  • Having someone sit with the child while I napped during the day
  • Getting the family to come over to help overnight
  • Taking the car for an oil change
  • Mowing our lawn
  • Babysitting other kids or taking them out for an activity
  • Staying home with the child while I work, visit friends, or recharge my emotional batteries
  • Dropping off or picking up laundry
  • Helping me take the child to the beach or a restaurant
  • Helping to find a counselor or therapist who accepts my insurance and has experience in medical trauma
  • Going for a walk or to the gym with me to get some exercise or fresh air
  • Taking care of me (giving me meals so I remember to eat, putting a cozy blanket over me while I sit with the child, etc.)

For more tips on asking for help, visit AARP or the Caregiver Action Network.

Online resources for parental support

In addition to accepting help from friends and family, parents can find support through online resources and communities. Here are some high-quality, authoritative sites to explore:

• • Family Caregiver Alliance
  • Caring.com
  • Caregiver Support Services
  • Share the Care

Accepting help from friends and family can significantly improve the well-being of both the parent/guardian and the pediatric cardiac arrest survivor. It is important to recognize the benefits of accepting help for the parent, the child needing care, and the person offering to help and to learn how to effectively ask for assistance and accept it when it is offered. Remember to contact your support network and explore online resources for additional support in your caregiving journey.

Thank you to our contributors

Matthew Douma, Kristin Flannery, & Isabella Tincher