Self-Care for Caregivers
Being responsible for a senior loved one can be an incredibly difficult and stressful experience. Not only can it be emotionally and physically exhausting, but it can also be time-consuming and impact your ability to take care of the other responsibilities in your life.
Here is some advice to help you maintain your own health and well-being while taking on the role of caregiver:
Incorporate yoga, meditation and relaxation techniques into your daily activities.
Even 15 – 20 minutes per day can help you to focus and settle your mind and spirits. These activities can be done at home and there are many apps and YouTube videos to help you get started. Consider these free apps and YouTube videos:
Apps and Videos
- Daily Yoga
- Simply Yoga
- Pocket Yoga
- 5-Minute Yoga
- https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene/videos?app=desktop
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEEsdXn8oG8
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7xsYgTeM2Q
Get adequate sleep and eat well.
Sleep and nutrition are important components in maintaining good mental and physical health and should be a priority when caring for a senior. If your time is limited, consider using one of the many meal prep services to help you get well-balanced meals or cook food in quantities that enable you to freeze food for future meals. Getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night is also a key component to good health. Many individuals suffer from sleep deprivation and with the additional stress of taking care of a senior, adequate sleep is even more important. If you have tried many methods to get better sleep (lavender essential oil, warm bath before bedtime, soothing music, etc.) it might be time to see a professional and get their advice and help.
Consider joining a support group.
There are many people going through the same situation and it is always beneficial to seek support and reinforcement from other caregivers. Many of these support groups are community-based and have regular meetings and there are also online communities that may be easier to schedule.
Take care of your own health.
Clearly staying healthy is a top priority so besides eating well and getting adequate sleep, you must make certain to get regular check-ups and visit your own doctors when you don’t feel well. Don’t put it off and allow the possibility of something minor turning into a bigger problem.
Get help.
Even in the best of situations the daily task of caring for a senior can be overwhelming and impossible to do on your own. Right at Home can help you. We are flexible and can provide in-home care and companionship that will give you the time to attend to everything else that you must do.
Just give us a call and set up an appointment with us today or contact us online.
