In our previous post we talked about how to create a caregiver support team around you. Today we will talk about how to provide your own caregiver support system while you are coping with stress to help prevent burn out. Caregiver stress is a serious issue. Unfortunately, most caregivers forget they need to take time for themselves or they will burn out all too soon. When that happens they have nothing left to give – to their loved one or to themselves.
Being a caregiver is often a long-term commitment. Most of the time we do not know how long we will be caring for an elderly loved one, but they can live longer than we expect no matter how old or how ill they are. That is not to say that sometimes they might suddenly pass away, but they often linger much longer than we expect. Therefore, we must prepare for the long run and not allow ourselves to become overly fatigued from stress and over work.
Before caring for someone else takes its toll on you, consider following these suggestions to keep you from caregiver burnout:
Understand you have limitations. As a caregiver to a loved one, you will try to do everything yourself. Accept that there are limitations as to how much time and energy you can give to another person without burning out yourself. One way to prevent that is to create a caregiver support team around you.
Practice good organizational skills. As best you can, try to keep your daily life as organized as possible so that you can quickly move from task to task. Keep all financial records in one place, all health care related supplies and information in their own place, cleaning supplies and other household items in their own place, and so forth.
Accept help from others. Understanding your own limitations and practicing good organizational skills includes accepting help from others. Whether you receive help from volunteers or you obtain paid help for such tasks as house cleaning, try not to go it alone. If someone offers to help, do not turn them down because of pride or a false sense that you can handle everything. It takes a team to care for one person, especially if it turns out that care is long term.
Schedule and take vacations. This is of the utmost importance. When you are coping with stress, you must take time away from your caregiver duties so that you can regroup. Just like vacations away from a regular job are necessary, so is getting away from your caregiver duties – if not more so.
Take care of yourself. Your health is extremely important to you and to your ability to care for another person. Eat a balanced diet, get plenty of rest, and try to exercise as often as possible so that you can keep yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy.
Take time to relax. Every day take time to rest, relax, go for a walk, or practice deep breathing exercises. Grab a twenty minute nap every afternoon. Try for at least fifteen minutes every four hours or so to regroup and refresh.
Take time to see your doctor. As stated above, to care for someone else you must take care of yourself. See your own doctor for a complete physical and for routine checkups so that he can monitor your physical and mental health.
One thing most caregivers forget is that they must take care of themselves BEFORE they can care for someone else. Do not put yourself last. You must stay healthy and alert if you want to make a positive difference in someone else’s life.
Care giving is one of the most difficult and stressful jobs on earth. Burn out is high. But it can also be one of the most fulfilling things you ever do, especially if you care for one or both of your parents or for another family member. While you are aiming to do the best you can for your loved one, make sure that you are also doing the best you can for yourself by taking care of yourself first to prevent stress and caregiver burnout. For further information on stress and caregiver burnout, click on these links.
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