Providing care for elderly loved ones can cause family caregivers to be overwhelmed with emotion. The stress from daily duties and the fear of not knowing if your loved one will get better could lead to serious health issues. You need to recognize the symptoms of caregiver stress and develop ways to combat it. Here are some tips for handling the emotional side of caregiving.
Hire Outside Help
Caring for your loved one may leave you feeling mentally and physically depleted. Balancing your personal life with work and caregiving duties can be physically draining and lead to anxiety. As a caregiver, you need to be smart and realize when you’ve taken on too much. Hire outside help to give you regular breaks during the week in addition to extended time off. The key is to take some of the pressure off by delegating duties to a professional caregiver who can step right in.
If you’re the primary family caregiver for an elderly loved one and need additional assistance providing high-quality senior home care, Home Care Assistance can help. We are a leading home care agency committed to changing the way seniors age.
Join an Emotional Support Group
There are support groups that consist of professional counselors and group members who know exactly what you’re going through. These groups are places where you can vent without feeling ashamed or guilty. You can also receive caregiving tips that apply to your current situation. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, attend a support group meeting or contact someone from your group via telephone. Receiving emotional support could help you relieve tension and become more resilient, which could also strengthen your relationship with your loved one.
Work on Goals
It’s never too late to follow your dreams, regardless of how long it takes. If you give up on your goals, you could experience guilt, anger, and other negative emotions. Scheduling a day out of the week to work on your goals is a good way to prevent resentment and anger. During this time, you can research ideas pertaining to your future goals. The objective is to continue working on your dreams instead of giving up and living with resentment.
A professional caregiver can assist your loved one at home while you go on vacation or work on your personal goals. Though you may be researching multiple agencies that provide home care service, Carmichael, California, Home Care Assistance has much to offer your family and your elderly loved one. We are leaders in the senior home care industry, offering proprietary programs like our holistic Balanced Care Method and around-the-clock assistance from reliable, experienced caregivers. Trust Home Care Assistance to help your loved one enjoy a happier and healthier life in the golden years.
Get Regular Exercise
Exercising is a good way for family caregivers to boost their mood and alleviate emotional stress. Yoga is the ideal form of exercise for caregivers to do when clearing their minds. The meditation and breathing techniques can relax your body and your mind. Dancing and walking are other exercises that lead to positive endorphins being released into the body, which provides an immediate mood boost. Consult with your doctor to determine how much exercise you need to do each week. The doctor can also recommend the best exercise techniques to enhance your emotional wellbeing.
Family caregivers should consider taking regular breaks from their caregiving duties and focusing on their own wellbeing. In Carmichael, respite care is a great help to many families. Caring for a senior loved one can be overwhelming at times, which puts family caregivers at risk for burnout. However, an in-home caregiver can take over your loved one’s care, allowing you the time you need to focus on your own health, maintain a full-time job, or care for other members of your family. For details about our premier home care services, give Home Care Assistance a call at (916) 485-4663 today.