3 Big Tips for Family Caregivers

Caregiver in Evanston IL

It’s really difficult to be a caregiver to an elderly loved one. There are physical demands, of course, but there are significant emotional demands, too. All of that can take a toll on you if you aren’t taking care of yourself the way that you should be. While it’s easy to tell yourself that you’ll take better care of yourself, it’s sometimes difficult to put that into practice. It helps to have some solid rules for yourself that can give you a framework to operate from.

Do Something Just for You Every Day

When you’re a caregiver, you spend an awful lot of time meeting needs for others. Those others could be everyone from your boss all the way to your kids, your spouse, and your elderly loved one. And often the first person to fall off of your list is you. While this is fine in the short term, in the long term you’ll find that you’re more stressed and that you handle it more and more poorly. Choose one thing every day that you can do just for you. Whether that one thing is spending time reading a book that you love or exercising or meeting a friend for lunch, it’s an important part of taking care of you.

Ask for Help Before You Need It

One of the problems that caregivers run into is that they want to avoid burdening anyone else with everything on their plate, so they wait to ask for help. Often by the time a family caregiver asks for help, it’s beyond necessary. Start paying attention to when you really need help and look at what happens right before you get to that critical mass. You’ll start to get very good at anticipating the times that you need assistance. Whether that’s from other family members or from experienced senior care providers, having help there before you’re in too far over your head will make a big difference.

Look for Support from Others in Similar Situations

Being a caregiver to a loved one is a very isolated situation. You feel like you’re the only one going through the emotions and the problems that you’re facing. The reality is, though, that there are countless other people in the exact same situation. Reach out to support groups that have people just like you in them. You’ll find a well of emotional support that can keep you going in really tough times.

The better that you care for yourself, the better you’ll be able to care for everyone else in your life.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Evanston, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.

 

Jamie Shapiro