Self-Care Tips For Caregivers Who Support the Elderly
Taking care of yourself is one of the most important things you can do as a caregiver because your well-being is necessary in this role. Caregiving is not easy. It takes a lot of responsibility, dedication, time and effort to care for an elderly individual. There are a lot of adjustments that have to be made as well.
Caring for an older person can be rewarding because you know that you are making a difference in their life by taking care of them. At the same time, it’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed, anxious, tired, angry, or impatient because we tend not to take care of ourselves in the process. Caregivers do so much for other people and we know they have a lot of stuff going on in their lives. They often forget to take the time out for themselves. Don’t wait until the last minute to take care of yourself. Your body will let you know when to stop and think about yourself. Learn from yourself and take action.
Here are 7 tips that you can use when you feel overwhelmed and need time to yourself.
Be Active: It is very important to find some kind of movement that you enjoy. It could be something as simple as taking a walk, riding your bike, or doing some gentle stretches. This can help you calm your mind, give you energy, and improve your outlook.
Eat Balanced Meals Consistently: Just as you are making sure the person you are caring for is nourished, you want to make sure that you too are eating a well-balanced meal. Incorporate healthy foods and make sure to stay hydrated.
Prioritize Your Own Health: Caregivers often forget to make doctors appointments for themselves. Making sure your health comes first at all times is very important. You can also tell your doctor that you are a caregiver for the elderly. They might suggest some helpful resources for you to explore.
Love Yourself: You don’t always have to feel like you have to be happy or cheerful all the time. Expressing emotions like sadness, anger, frustration and tiredness are all understandable, especially when taking care of another person. Expressing yourself by journaling or talking with a friend can help reduce stress and find greater understanding.
Get Adequate Sleep: It can be hard to get a good night’s rest when taking care of an elderly person, especially if you are getting up throughout the night to check on them. Getting adequate sleep, however, is necessary for your own well-being. Creating a relaxing bedtime routine can make it easier for you to fall asleep.
Take Time to Relax: Find something you really enjoy doing and try to set a time each week to engage in that activity. It’s important that you have opportunities to fill your own cup throughout the week. You don’t have to feel guilty for taking time out for yourself.
Self-Care: Caregivers often don’t take time out of their day for self-care because of the busy-ness of day-to-day life. Self-care can be simple, and prioritizing it will allow you to be an even better caregiver. As they say on all flights, “put your own oxygen mask on first, before helping others.” As a caregiver, have you been putting your own oxygen mask on first?
If you’re like many caregivers, you may be reading this and telling yourself that you do not have time to do these things. And, if you do have the time, you might feel guilty for using it to take care of yourself. It’s important to understand that there are serious emotional and physical consequences when we don’t take good care of ourselves. When we are prioritizing our own self-care, it’s easier to show up as the kind of caregiver that we want to be.
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Written by: Sabah Khalid, LGPC
Sabah Khalid is a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor with experience providing resources to support caregivers and the elderly. If you are a Maryland-based caregiver who is feeling burned out, know that Sabah offers online counseling services to support you. Counseling services are available in English, Urdu, and Punjabi.
