Caregiving has both positive and negative effects on the family caregiver. It is very gratifying to help a family member with activities of daily living. But day after day, week after week, caregiving can burden family caregivers.
Some of the negative aspects of family caregiving include absenteeism from work and difficulty engaging in social interactions or relationships with others due to time constraints caused by caregiving duties. After all, caregiving often takes precedence over self-care and family obligations. With the weight of these commitments, family caregivers often experience a decline in their own physical and mental health, because their own needs are not being met.
Moreover, there are emotional strains involved, especially when caring for a family member or loved one becomes long-term. Long-term in-home care will change the trajectory of the personal and professional life of a family caregiver, which can easily lead to burnout.
Are you stressed, overwhelmed, or burned out from providing care for your loved one? It's so important if you are a family or primary caregiver that you take care of yourself. What happens if you become ill or you need to be away for a few days? Who's going to care for your loved one?
This week, I offer 3 suggestions to family and private caregivers about how to practice self-care to best care for loved ones.
- Take time for yourself.
Stay active with your hobbies and interests. Go out and get your hair done, get your nails done, do something for yourself. Go to the beach and just listen to the waves. Go out to lunch with a friend and have a break. Even if it's just 10 minutes a day.
- Get your stress out.
Just go to the park and scream. Get your stress out. It may seem a little odd to be sitting in the park and screaming, but it's a proven fact that reducing stress in this way works. Just get that stress out.
Perhaps, consider meditation. There are many apps available that can help guide you with meditation. Just look into them. It's a very therapeutic option.
Go to the gym. Work out. That's going to reduce a lot of stress.
Listen to your favorite music. I like to turn up the radio and let the music blare! It never fails to remove all of my cares. My go-to tunes are by the Eagles, the Doobie Brothers, and the Steve Miller Band. Those are my personal favorites.
The takeaway: just take some time for you.
- Get support.
There are so many support groups out there. You can research them online. Your church may host or have connections to local support groups. There are so many options to demonstrate you're not alone. There are others out there that are experiencing what you're experiencing and having the opportunity to connect with them can be very helpful.
The bottom line is, you need to prepare for additional support.
What happens if something happens to you? Do you have neighbors, friends, or someone from your church who would come in and provide you with respite care or a little bit of extra help? Respite care, gives you, the primary caregiver, a break. Whether it's an hour, 8 hours, or a day or two, it's imperative to have somebody come in and help support you, so you can take care of yourself.
Here’s where Home Helpers® and home care come into play. We can provide you with respite care. Whether it’s a few hours of care a day or over a weekend, our highly trained caregivers can cover so you get the necessary time for yourself.
Considering kiddos will be finishing the school year and summertime fun and travel are around the corner, respite care services are our way of Making Life Easier℠ for you, your family, and your loved one.
Respite care by a compassionate Home Helpers® caregiver provides a necessary break for family and private caregivers while delivering exceptional TLC for your loved one. My highly trained team of professional caregivers is available 24/7/365, to provide respite care and deliver personalized care services for loved ones that benefit everyone.
If we can help in any way to support you or your loved one, I am available to discuss all of the services we provide during a FREE consultation and assessment of needs so I can create a customized care plan. Please do not hesitate to contact me, because I can and will match the perfect Home Helpers® caregiver to make life easier.
We, at Home Helpers® Clearwater, are honored to have been ranked among the Home Care Pulse Top 100 Leaders in Experience for home care providersand to have receivedthese awards in 2024: Best of Home Care® Provider of Choice, the Best of Home Care® Employer of Choice, the Best of Home Care® Leader in Experience, as well as being named a Caring.com 2023 Caring Super Star.
We proudly serve male and female seniors in Clearwater, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Holiday, New Port Richey, Trinity, Port Richey, Hudson, and surrounding areas. Home Helpers®…we are Making Life Easier® (727) 240-3059
