Susan had made the decision about three months ago to quit her job and care for her mother. Her Mom had heart disease and was not able to function without help at home, so Susan and her husband decided to help out. Even from the start, Susan knew this was a big commitment to her mother, but why not? Her mother had sacrificed plenty to raise Susan, and they had a wonderful relationship.

As the care giving for her mother increased, Susan recognized she was becoming depressed, worried, and losing touch with her own interests. Aside from that, Susan’s main issues were that she no longer had time to exercise. One afternoon, while her mother was napping, she found herself suddenly crying. What had she gotten herself into? Susan felt overwhelming despair, yet she had promised her mother she would be there for her.

The above scenario is an everyday occurrence in thousands of households across the country. As surprising as it may sound, family caregivers often have more problems than the elder family member they are caring for! Countless family caregivers find themselves developing high blood pressure, loss of sleep, anxiety, depression and any number of other chronic health issues.

Staying healthy as a family caregiver is crucial, and requires a commitment to “self care” on your part. Think about what you like to do and weave it into your daily routine of caring for your loved one. You must have a break from the care giving! The common term used is “respite.” Think in terms of your mind, body and spirit. How do you maintain a healthy balance in each of those areas, while caring for someone else?

Here are some ideas:
Read a good book while the care recipient is napping.
Have a project in the home you enjoy, such as woodworking, knitting, scrapbooking, or painting.
Listen to music you enjoy during meal times.
Prepare a meal that you enjoy.
Meditate or pray.
Look at old family photos with your loved one.
Email or talk with your friends daily.
Listen to the news or read the newspaper.
Get exercise DVDs or tapes that you can use at home; yoga or exercise with a physioball are practical options.
Go for a walk several times per week. If you are unable to leave your family member, involve a family member or friend to relieve you for short periods.
Stay in close touch with other family members.
Create a private space in another room.
Use humor in your care; this not only keeps your mood upbeat, but is also therapeutic for the older adult.
Treat yourself to a massage or pedicure.
Grow herbs indoors.
Plant a garden.
Take slow deep breaths when you begin to feel anxiety.
These are just a few ways for you to take care of yourself while caring for your elder loved one. Create your own “self care” plan. Follow it religiously and you will have the stamina to care for your loved one.

Author: Mary Lynn Pannen, RN, BSN, CCM is the President/CEO of Sound Options, a national elder coaching, private geriatric care management and home care company

Tags: activities, aging parent, aging parents, caregiver, Child Care, Child Care RI, Childcare RI, consult, day care, day care options, day care providers, day care RI, daycare, daycare options, Daycare providers, Daycare providers RI, daycare RI, elder, Elder Care, Elder Care options, Elder Care RI, eldercare options, Eldercare RI, families, family, guidelines, information, options, Parent, Parents, resource, senior care, senior care RI

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 at 6:56 pm and is filed under Elder Care. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.