Elder Care Guide and Information

As a caregiver to an aging parent, finding time for positive interactions with other adults can be quite a challenge. You owe it to yourself to find time for just you.

Otherwise, the demands of care giving can sap your mental required to handle the roller coaster of emotions you’ll face as a caregiver. You’ll find yourself fighting with guilt, anger and frustration. It’s part of the territory and perfectly normal.

It’s okay if every one of your decisions is not perfect. You’ll make mistakes.

It happens.

Give yourself permission to be less than perfect.

Find a way to work in activities you enjoy even when you really don’t much feel like it. Diversions give your mind time to relax, regroup and refresh itself. Here are 6 ideas to jump start your own thinking about activitie. Grab a piece of paper. As you read each one, jot down your own ideas as they come to you.

1. Listen to soothing music

2. Keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings. Writing provides both an important emotional release and helps give your life perspective.

3. Work in a garden (even if your garden is a series of potted plants)

4. Eat hearty,balanced meals. Your body is under a lot of stress. It needs good food to provide stamina.

5. Fit in time to exercise. A 20 minute walk around the neighborhood or the mall increases your cardiac activity, boosts endorphins and works off tension, all
at the same time.

6. Buy light reading, particularly humorous books or rent movies of your favorite comedians. Laughter is proven to reduce stress. It may help you find the humor in every day happenings.

Okay, now it’s time to jot down your ideas.

Write down at least 2 that work for you. Then act on them. Consider each one an act of personal kindness…a present you are giving yourself every day. As a caregiver to an aging parent, you deserve it!

Filed under: Elder Care, Caregiver Stress Management