Caregiving can be extremely rewarding, but also challenging. The cliché is that you must take care of yourself to care for others. However, realistically a caregiver plays various other roles besides being a full time caregiver, and these roles limit the amount of time one has for adequate self-care. Finding a balance is necessary and there are organizations out there to support caregivers. Please see those featured below.

- The Family Caregiver Alliance provides fantastic support for caregivers. Check out their website to search through their Family Care Navigator for local resources and support in your community. For tips on ways that caregivers can care for themselves, take a look at the National Cancer Institute's Caring for the Caregiver.

- The AARP Foundation's Prepare to Care provides A Planning Guide for Families where caregivers and patients can keep track of appointments, questions for their doctor, finances, and helpful resources found along the way. The information is geared more towards adult children caring for aging parents, but many of the checklists and action items can be adapted.

- For spousal caregivers, try Young Cancer Spouses or Well Spouse Association to find more information and support on how to best care for your partner.

Do you have any self-care tips for caregivers that have been helpful for you or your loved one? Please share them here.

Blog reposted from May 2011