Securing elderly in home care is often stressful, not only for the elderly person needing of care, but also for the family member that is the caregiver. Family caregivers are expected to stay strong and help the person in need, but what happens if the person that is 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 assistance. Their voice has a tone of desperation and they are almost in a panic. Often they 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 stress of caring for an elderly parent makes them ill, 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 very careful not to let the situation overwhelm you. You do not want to burn out. Here are a few points that can help.
1. Get the help you need. 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 qualifies for Medicaid, there may be programs available which would pay for either home care or adult day care services.
– If your loved one has a serious illness, consider using hospice. You don’t have to wait until the illness is at the ends stages to get help.
-Ask relative or close friends to help you out.
2. Exercise Regularly. Exercise can greatly reduce stress, keep your body strong, strengthen your immunity to illness 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, burn calories and give you a chance to mentally relax. Some excellent mind/body exercises include yoga and tai chi. Make time to exercise and you will feel much better.
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 fueled and strong.
4. Learn relaxation exercises. Use deep, full breathing, meditation and some of the mind/body exercises mentioned above will be helpful. An easy breathing practice is to inhale through your nose for a count of four, filling your belly with air, not in your upper 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 not 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 chip in financially if they are not able to share some of the actual hands-on care.
While it can be very difficult to do many of the suggestions listed above you must understand that if you become ill, the problem is greatly magnified. You must be firm in taking time to keep yourself fit and healthy and most importantly, you must not feel guilty. You are doing a great and honorable 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.
