Caring for a loved one can be difficult. Thankfully, there are things that you can do to relieve your stress and anxiety. And doing so will enable you to focus on what matters most – providing the best care possible. If you don’t know where to start or what actions to take, consider the steps outlined below. These recommendations will not only help you, but your loved one as well.
Have Realistic Expectations
It’s important to have an understanding of the work involved when caring for a loved one, along with your own limitations. As one person, you can’t do it all. It’s okay to ask for help, and it’s okay to admit when your limits have been reached. After all, how can you be expected to care for someone else when your ability to care for yourself is compromised? If you are suddenly tasked with caring for an elder loved one, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and keep your own needs in mind. Simply because you’re caring for someone else, you shouldn’t suddenly be relegated to second fiddle – your needs still matter.
Stay Organized
If you approach elder care with a regimented approach, you may find the entire process to be easier than you had anticipated. Being organized can have a profound impact on mind and body, and this is true whether you’re organizing a physical space, or bringing organization and order to a task. Consider an application like Todoist (like “to-do list”) to organize your daily tasks into digestible and easily manageable chunks. Doing so can not only help you stay on task, but having certain functions of your day be automated (or at least accounted for in advance) can greatly help relieve your stress and worry as well.
Have a Support Group
Even the strongest, most resolute of us will find our breaking point at some time or another. As we mentioned in our first step, you can’t go about caring for a loved one all alone. After all, how are you expected to work, or maintain any kind of social life, if you alone are responsible? Enlist the help of friends and family, extended relatives, physical therapists, volunteers, or respite care providers. Really, anyone who may be willing or able to help. Even brief respites from your responsibilities can reinvigorate your capability to care for a loved one. Again, doing so will benefit you and your family member.
Don’t Forget Your Own Health
Your own health is incredibly important, so do everything that you can to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen. After all, if you are sick or ill, you can’t be expected to care for someone else. To maintain a healthy diet, consider using programs like MyFitnessPal; with calorie counters, a food journal, healthy food recipes, and a mobile app, tracking your food intake and sticking to a healthy diet is easy. Ditch the hamburgers and ice cream, and start stocking up on your greens and fibers. You will find that you have more energy, more stamina, and a brighter outlook on life – all of which will make you a better caregiver.
Use Technology to Your Advantage
Caring for a loved one means being aware of their location at all times, and what they’re doing. If your loved one falls down, for example, he or she may not be able to get up or call for help. This is why it’s important that you keep track of them at all times. Thankfully, technology makes this easier than ever before. A medical alert system, like the Lively Mobile medical alert device, can help by providing fall detection alerts, GPS tracking, and even emergency response services. Small and mobile, such devices are easily clipped on a belt loop or blouse, making them both helpful and convenient. Consider getting one for the person under your care.
Enlist in Elder Programs
There are sure to be a wide range of elder programs in your area, from swim and yoga classes designed with seniors in mind, to social and educational programs. Finding a program that is right for the loved one in your life is as simple as researching what’s available near you, and enrolling. Regardless of what you choose, these programs are a terrific option for elder care givers, as they provide you with a break in responsibilities while enabling your loved one to socialize with others. Just as a school kid’s favorite day of school is always Field Trip day, don’t be surprised if your loved one looks forward to their various days out!
Nice ideas