Respite care - When caring for a loved one, remember to take care of yourself

If you've taken on the caregiver role for a senior or someone with a chronic illness or disability, chances are you have experienced more than your share of fatigue, frustration, loneliness, and stress. Few of us expect to add caregiving to an already challenging list of family and professional responsibilities. But if the task falls on you and the strain of caregiving threatens to throw your hectic life off balance, take a tip or two from those who have walked in your shoes. 

Get all the help you can. Seek or accept help from family members, friends, neighbors, volunteers from your community or church group, paid caregivers, or a geriatric care manager. Help may take the form of care or companionship for your loved one, assistance with shopping or homemaking, or help completing daily activities such as bathing, dressing and meal preparation.

Safeguard your physical and mental health.  Undertaking the role of a caregiver can mean accepting a great deal of additional responsibility on top of managing your own health.  Surprisingly, the primary reason many seniors are moved from the comfort of their own home into a institutional setting is the decline in health of the caregiver, not the patient. Many caregivers face minimal time to care for themselves, including no time to exercise, not enough rest, not enough rest when they are ill, no time to eat regular meals, postponing their own health care needs (flu shots, doctor appointments), etc. Exhaustion can compromise your body's immune system and lead to illness and between 40 and 70 percent of caregivers experience symptoms of depression. Take care to eat well, get enough sleep, see your doctor regularly, and take time for yourself in order to stay healthy, keep your loved ones healthy and avoid burnout.

Make time for yourself. Schedule respite times when you can attend to your needs and pursue your interests. Exercise, shop, read, or enjoy yourself with friends and other family members - engaging in whatever activities you find most fulfilling and relaxing.  Either through finding activities your loved ones are interested in or by having someone else come in to provide you some relief, making time for yourself is an important element in maintaining your physicial and mental well-being.

Consider connecting with other caregivers. Communicating with people who share your challenges can be a relief. Contact your local senior center or hospital to learn about caregiver support groups in your area, or connect with fellow caregivers via the Web.

As with other priorities in your life, the responsibility for caring for yourself comes down to you. Even small steps toward positive change can reap significant benefits for you and your loved ones.

ResCare HomeCare can assist you by providing respite care, in home senior care, care management or other personal home care services, or by referring you to other professionals in your community who can address your needs. Click here to find a ResCare HomeCare location near you.

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