Take Time To Care For Yourself When You Are Caring For A Loved One
When you are caring for a loved one, take time to care for yourself. The emotional and physical stress of caregiving can cause health problems.
Who are caregivers?
Informal or family caregivers help sick or disabled family members, friends, or neighbors with basic daily tasks. Sometimes they are just there to listen.
You may be a caregiver if you regularly help a family member or friend with:
Transportation
Grocery shopping
Housework
Taking medication
Getting dressed
Managing services
About 1 out of 5 Americans is a caregiver. Most caregivers have other jobs and spend 20 hours a week or more caring for a family member.
The stress of caregiving can affect your health.
Research shows that caregivers are more at risk for colds and flu. Caregivers are also more likely to have a long–term medical problem like arthritis, diabetes, or depression.
Common signs of caregiver stress are:
Feeling angry or sad
Feeling like you are dealing with more than you can handle
Sleeping too much or too little
Having trouble eating or eating too much
Losing interest in things you used to do
Take Action!
Take these steps to reduce the stress of caregiving on your body and mind.
Take care of your body.
Caring for your body will give you the energy and strength to handle the physical stress of caregiving.
Eating healthy and getting active will help you make it through the day. Aim for 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity like walking fast or dancing.
Caregiving can be stressful. Stress can lead to back and neck pain and lack of sleep.
Learn how to manage stress. Start by taking a few slow, deep breaths. Take steps to prevent back pain, like sitting and standing up straight.
Make sure you are getting enough sleep. Most adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night.
Find additional resources from healthfinder.gov.
Remember These 10 Tips For Family Caregivers
1 Caregiving is a job and respite is your earned right. Reward yourself with respite breaks often.
2 Watch out for signs of depression, and don’t delay in getting professional help when you need it.
3 When people offer to help, accept the offer and suggest specific things that they can do.
4 Educate yourself about your loved one’s condition and how to communicate effectively with doctors.
5 There’s a difference between caring and doing. Be open to technologies and ideas that promote your loved one’s independence.
6 Trust your instincts. Most of the time they’ll lead you in the right direction.
7 Caregivers often do a lot of lifting, pushing, and pulling. Be good to your back.
8 Grieve for your losses, and then allow yourself to dream new dreams.
9 Seek support from other caregivers. There is great strength in knowing you are not alone.
10 Stand up for your rights as a caregiver and a citizen.
Print out 10 tips for family caregivers [PDF – 72.5 KB] to put on your refrigerator. Click Here
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December 21, 2009
Tags: COPD caregiver tips, COPD family caregiver, family caregiver tips Posted in: COPD caregivers
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