As a family caregiver, what are you responsible for? Does anyone help you or are you the only caregiver throughout the week? It’s important to take a look at all you do and see if there’s a way to have others help out. It’s important for your mental and physical health for more reasons than you might realize.
Mental Breaks Keep You From Burning Out
Caregiver burnout is a possibility if you’re not careful. You provide 24/7 care for your parents. Your daily schedule is routine. You drive to your parents’ house, help them, go home, take care of your family, and go to bed. If you work, you have to fit that in.
When you’re following the same routine every day, it gets boring. You may feel trapped. You’re more likely to make mistakes. You’re more likely to feel stressed and become anxious or depressed.
Stay Social
It’s easy to put social activities off when you’re caring for your parents every day. Your friends want to go out, but you’re tired and can’t imagine going out until the wee hours. You turn them down one week, and then another, and then another. You reach a point where they stop asking.
Socialization is proven to impact your mental and physical health in positive ways. If you never see your friends, you have a greater risk of loneliness, depression, and even conditions like high blood pressure. Stay social by arranging to take an evening off now and then.
Don’t Overlook the Importance of Your Own Medical Exams
You’re also more likely to put off doctor’s appointments for yourself when you’re a caregiver. You don’t have time to go. Or, you’re at your parents’ doctors with them so much that you just can’t stand the thought of one more appointment.
You wait until a problem arises. At that point, you’ve pushed things off for so long that you risk your physical health. It’s better to take a day off and get to the doctor for yearly wellness checks, eye exams, and dental cleanings.
What Do You Know About Respite Care?
Respite care may not be what you think. It’s a service senior care agencies provide that send a caregiver to your parents’ house to help them out when you can’t. You might need a day off to run errands. Respite care helps when you are taking a business trip or plan to go on vacation. It also helps if you’re ill with a cold, flu, or other virus and need to stay away to make sure your parents don’t get it.
If you don’t have siblings who can help out, it’s time to look into senior care services. Let caregivers assist you while you take a break or get other things done. Call a senior care agency to discuss prices and schedules.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering senior care in Moraga, CA, please contact the caring staff at Provident Care Home Care today at (209) 578-1210.
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