What Do You Need to Adjust in Terms of Physical Self-care as a Family Caregiver?

By Jamie Shapiro | September 1, 2016 | Comments Off on What Do You Need to Adjust in Terms of Physical Self-care as a Family Caregiver?

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Self-care is about more than just emotional well-being. It also means that you should be taking care of your physical health. Here are some ways for you to do just that.

Exercise

Exercising regularly has the same benefits for you that it has for your elderly loved one. You’ll be able to keep your mood elevated, your body will be stronger, and you’ll have better energy levels. You don’t have to spend hours in the gym to get those benefits, either. You can simply take a walk around the block or do something else that you love. Anything that gets your heart rate up can work wonders.

Sleep

If you’re not getting enough sleep, you likely feel as though you’re constantly dragging through each day. Getting regular exercise can help you to sleep better, incidentally, so these two items go hand in hand. If you’re still not able to get enough or to get quality sleep, talk with your doctor to determine if there’s a medical reason behind the problem.

Nutrition

Eating the right foods helps your body to have the fuel that it needs to keep running. If you can eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables daily, that’s ideal. Add lean proteins, healthy fats, and whole grains to give yourself a balanced diet. You may also want to talk to your doctor about any recommendations that can help you to deal with specific health conditions.

Relaxation

As much as you need exercise and the right foods, you also need time to relax. Your body isn’t supposed to keep running day in and day out with no opportunities to relax, so make sure that you give yourself time for fun.

Health

And finally, make sure that you’re keeping up with your own doctor’s appointments. You know how important they are for your elderly loved one, but you also need to make sure that you’re having any health conditions looked into by your own doctor. Skipping those appointments could mean that you’re missing something that you need to be looking into more closely.

By taking care of yourself on a physical level, you can make sure that you’re better able to care for your elderly loved one.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Lake Forest, 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
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