Finding assisted in home care can be a very stressful experience, not only for the senior in need of care, but also for the family. The primary family members are expected to be strong and healthy, but what happens if the caregiver gets sick?
When you talk to someone looking for these servicesYou can know right away when the family member who is calling is at a breaking point and in desperate need of senior in home care. Their voice is very stressed and they seem panicked. They frequently describe their situation and you can tell they are on the verge of tears. Unfortunately, some people wait and try to do everything themselves until they cannot take more and the pressure of caring for an elderly parent takes its toll, but it does not have to be like that.
If you are the primary caregiver of a family member with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other serious illness, you need to be on guard not to let the situation overwhelm you. You must take care of yourself. Here are a few points that can help.
1. Find help. Allow others to help and don’t feel that you have to be the one to do everything. There are numerous ways to get help for your loved one depending on your needs, location and financial situation. Here are a few:
- Contact the Office on Aging and ask about respite programs. Most counties have programs that will pay for a limited number of hours of home care services, free of charge. These types of programs are designed to give you a break and allow you to get out of the house.
- If your loved one has a serious illness, seriously consider using hospice. You don’t have to wait until the illness is at the ends stages to get help.
- If your family member qualifies for Medicaid, there may be programs available which would pay for either home care or adult day care services.
-Ask rlose friends or other family members to help you out.
2. Get Exercise. Exercise can greatly reduce stress, keep your body strong, strengthen your immune system and just make you feel much better. Some of the best exercises are walking or biking. These are easy to do, get your heart rate into the aerobic zone, help strengthen the body and give you a chance to clear your head. Some excellent mind/body exercises include Tai Chi and Yoga. Make time to exercise and you will reap the rewards.
3. Eat well. Eating a well balanced diet helps you maintain your strength and keep your immune system operating and gives you the energy you need to be a caregiver. You have to keep your body strong and properly fueled.
4. Learn relaxation exercises. Use deep breathing, meditation and some of the mind/body exercises mentioned above will be helpful. An easy breathing technique is to inhale through your nose for a wait 4 seconds, filling your belly with air, not your chest. Hold your breath for a count of seven and then exhale through your mouth for a count of eight. This can really help you become more tranquil when practiced regularly.
5. Get enough sleep. The fastest way to lose energy is never getting enough deep sleep. If you find you are taking care of your loved one during the night time hours, try to hire a person for overnight if at all possible. If you have siblings, ask them to help out financially if they are not able to share some of the actual direct care.
It may seem difficult to do some of these things, but you must understand that if you get run down and sick, the problem is greatly magnified. You must be firm in scheduling time to care for yourself and most importantly, you must feel good about doing it. You are doing a wonderful thing by being a caregiver, but it must not completely take over your life.
If you don’t know where find the help you need, consider hiring a professional geriatric care manager. You can search directories and the web to find qualified candidates and there are even free resources where you can read about the issues and find the help you need.
Tags: elder care, health, nursing homes