__ Taking care of yourself is your most important step as a caregiver. Caregivers are more likely than
those who are not caregivers to be at risk for colds and the flu and also
chronic illness, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer
On the other hand, when caregivers take time to care for
themselves, good things usually happen:
They stay healthier.
They feel better about themselves.
They have more energy and enthusiasm and can
keep giving care.
Here are some important things that you need to find time to
do-just for yourself:
Get some exercise. You may feel better and sleep
better if you exercise. One way is to be active in blocks of 10 minutes or more
throughout your day and week. Experts say to aim for at least 2½ hours of moderate
activity a week.
Eat healthy meals and snacks. When you are busy
giving care, it may seem easier to eat fast food than to prepare healthy meals.
But healthy meals are easy to prepare, and healthy eating will give you more
energy to carry you through each day.
Get enough sleep. If you are not getting enough
sleep at night, take a nap during the day. Plan to get at least one full
night’s rest each week.
Make time for an activity you enjoy—reading,
listening to music, painting or doing crafts, playing an instrument-even if you
can only do it for a few minutes a day. If you like to go to church activities
or take classes, ask a friend or family member to stay with your loved one for
an hour or two one or two times a week so you can do those things.
Get regular medical checkups. This includes
dental checkups. Even if you have always been healthy, you need to stay
healthy. Know about the signs of depression, and watch for them not only in the
person you are caring for but also in yourself. If you have feelings of
lingering sadness or hopelessness, talk with your doctor.
Miscellaneous
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Learn as much as you can about your family member’s illness and about how to be a caregiver as you can. The more you know, the more effective you’ll be, and the better you’ll feel about your efforts.
Know your limits. Be realistic about how much of your time and yourself you can give. Set clear limits, and communicate those limits to doctors, family members, and other people involved.
Accept your feelings. Caregiving can trigger a host of difficult emotions, including anger, fear, resentment, guilt, helplessness, and grief. As long as you don’t compromise the well-being of the care receiver, allow yourself to feel what you feel.
Confide in others. Talk to people about what you feel; don’t keep your emotions bottled up. Caregiver support groups are invaluable, but trusted friends and family members can help too. You may also benefit from seeing a therapist or counselor.
When people offer to help, accept the offer and suggest specific things that they can do.
Trust your instincts. Most of the time they’ll lead you in the right direction.
Caregivers often do a lot of lifting, pushing and pulling. Be good to your back.