Tips for Taking Better Care of Yourself as a Caregiver

How can you become a better caregiver for your aging parent? Maybe you must stay up later to get housework done at your mom's home. Perhaps you need to forego your daughter's recital. The answers are not so simple. You can wind up stressed, angry, and exhausted if your daily routine is not managed well. Ultimately, you may face a health crisis if you do not take better care of yourself. Where do you start? Is it possible to get yourself into a better position to get the rest you need? To be a better caregiver, you need to put yourself first, and there is no reason to feel guilty. This is possible when you use a personal support worker to assist your senior loved one.

Take Better Care of Yourself, and Care for Your Senior

Caregiver burnout is real. It has become more prominent as more and more Baby Boomers head into retirement. You may face burnout if you feel overwhelmed, fatigued, easily irritated, or lose interest in activities you have always enjoyed. Too much stress over a long period can harm your health and well-being. To be the best caregiver you can, use these suggestions:

1. Make your health a priority. It is crucial for you to keep on schedule with doctor's and dentist's appointments. Between shuttling kids to hockey practice and Mom to her dentist appointments, you may forget to make an appointment for your annual checkup. Also, stay up on your exercise routine and eat healthy. Both will give you the energy you need and protect your immune system so that you can keep up with your duties.
2. Ask for help. If you have siblings, see if they can help. Ask your brother to take Dad to his appointments or your sister to sit with Mom while you run errands. Even if they cannot help with the hands-on stuff, they may be able to grab some groceries, pay bills, or handle insurance paperwork. A home care professional is another option, especially when you also have a family and career to manage.
3. Take time off from your caregiver duties. We all need to have vacations from time to time. Even if you cannot take a whole week off, having a few days or hours off can improve your mental health. Respite care is specifically designed to provide caregivers with the break they deserve. It gives you time to run errands, read a book, or have lunch with a friend.
4. Develop a support team. The stress of being a caregiver can take an emotional toll on you even if you have physical support. You need to be able to relax and talk to someone at times. That is where a support group can be helpful. If you are hesitant about joining a group, seek out friends and family available to lend their ear.

Find the Support You Need from Quality Home Caregivers

Caregiving doesn't have to be a lonely endeavour, where all the stress is laid at your feet. Get the support you need from the team at Home Instead Brampton. Our trained home care workers know how to step in and provide the assistance your aging loved one needs. We tailor our home care services, so you don't have to stress about how your mom or dad is being cared for. We are here to serve you and your elderly parent with personal care assistance, light housekeeping, cooking, medication reminders, companionship, respite care, and much more

Call us at (905) 463-0860 to schedule a no-obligation, in-home consultation. Learn more about the compassionate, quality senior care we deliver daily to families in Brampton, Halton Hills, Inglewood, Norval, Georgetown, Glen Williams, Limehouse, Peel Village.