Make Your Journey Easier – Advice for Stressed Caregivers
Caregiver stress is real, and it affects the lives of all involved. Many find they start neglecting their health and their relationships. Eventually, they may discover they are seriously ill and lonely. While caring for your aging loved one is a noble responsibility and you may be heroic in fulfilling your senior care duties, it should not mean that you neglect your own health.
Taking care of yourself is the best gift you can give your loved one. What is the first thing you are told to do when traveling with a child? Think of it as an oxygen mask on an airplane. Put your mask on first, then put it on your child. Why? When you can breathe easier, you will not panic and fumble trying to put your child’s mask on. The concept is similar for caregivers of the elderly. Take care of your health so that you can better care for them. A professional personal support worker is a great option to ensure you can take the time you need to recharge.
3 Tips to Lighten Your Caregiver Stress
Are you ready to ease your load? Take a look at these three tips to alleviate caregiver stress:
- Seek Out Help: Sometimes, the most challenging thing you can do is to ask for assistance. Help comes in many forms, and you should never be afraid or ashamed to request it. For example, you can find groups on social media that are dealing with the same issues. You might find support groups near your home. Family may be offering to help. In all cases, give yourself the freedom to seek out and accept help every time you can. One idea for those friends and families that offer to help is to have a list of things someone can do in 15 minutes. These little tasks take stuff off your plate, leaving you more room to focus on the big stuff.
- Make Your Health a Priority: It is important to avoid the misconception that you are somehow selfish by taking care of your health needs. The reality is this: if you fall ill, you are less able to perform your duties. Many caregivers have found themselves in the hospital instead of at home with their parents because they stopped focusing on their health. Exercising helps alleviate stress. Eating healthy is best for both you and your charge, so why not take care of both of you in one swoop?
- Tame the Paperwork Beast: You will find that paperwork reproduces itself like dust bunnies. It is everywhere! Develop a system as soon as possible to wrangle in Mom’s medical information. Pull together Dad’s legal papers and ensure things are in order. You will find that having everything together in an organized fashion will make doctor’s visits smoother, and when the inevitable happens, you will have documents where you need them.
Breathe Easier – Home Instead is Here to Help
Stop and take a deep breath, knowing you made the right decision to enlist the services of Home Instead Etobicoke / North York. Our professionals support you and your loved one. We offer many services to make life easier and lighten the load for you. Some of our services include respite care, cooking, companionship, Alzheimer’s care. Contact us today, and let’s see what we can do to help you and your aging parent needing senior care at home.
Call us at (416) 239-2200 to schedule a no-obligation, in-home consultation. Learn more about the compassionate, quality senior care we deliver, every day, to families in All Etobicoke including: Kingsway, Mimico, Long Branch, Islington, Richview, The Community of Humber Heights, Rexdale, Markland Woods North York West including: Willowdale, Rexdale, Downsview, Humberwood, Weston, York University Heights, Humber Summit and areas in between.