Hi I'm Mary Alexander from Home Instead Senior Care. And today I'm talking about avoiding
caregiver burnout. And in this video I'm going to give you ways to unwind and cope. Most
family caregiver struggle to balance care-giving for an aging parent or relative with other
major responsibilities including jobs and caring for young children. This often means
that there is little time to care for themselves which can result in poor health and high levels
of stress. However, if you don't take care of yourself you will never be able to continue
taking care of your loved one. This means eating right, getting adequate rest, building
exercise into your schedule and keeping up with your medical appointments. Let's talk
about some of these in specifics. Workout, exercise at something you like to do. Walking,
dancing, biking, running, swimming for a minimum of 20 minutes at least three times a week.
Consider learning a stress management exercise such as Yoga or Ti Chi which teach in a balance
and relaxation. Meditate, sit still and breadth deeply with your mind as quiet as possible
whenever things feel like they are moving too quickly or you are feeling overwhelmed
by your responsibilities as a family caregiver. Many times you will feel like you don't even
have a minute to yourself, but its important to walk away and to take that minute. Ask
for help. According to a national survey conducted by the Home Instead Senior Care Network, 72%
of adults who are currently providing care for an aging loved one do it without any outside
help. To avoid burnout and stress, you need to enlist the help of other family members,
friends and consider hiring a professional caregiver for assistance without feeling bad
or guilty for reaching out. Asking for help is sometimes difficult but there are four
sure-fire ways to enlist support. First, give each person a responsibility, even if it's
small to help spread out the tasks. Even if your sibling lives a thousand miles away,
make it his or her responsibility to call your elderly parent once a week to check in
or to visit one week or two weeks a year so you can take your own family on vacation.
Second, divide up the tasks. Have a specific family member who handles the medical aspect
of your relative's care, such as talking with doctors and medication information. While
another may be responsible for groceries and meals and another handles paying the bills.
By dividing up the tasks, each person becomes more involved with the details of these tasks
and can keep each other abreast of changes, issues, and problems. Third, make sure to
converse with other family members about your elderly relative. If you don't express your
concerns, such as their debilitating health or amount of time you are spending caring
for them, you can't expect other family members to know what you are thinking and feeling.
And fourth, don't be a control freak. If you want to control every aspect of the care,
other family members maybe less help to step in. Thinking you have it all under control.
Don't be less able to understand your stress level. If they believe you are creating it
yourself. The next thing you can do for yourself is to take a break. Make arrangements for
any necessary fill-in help that includes family, friends, volunteers or professional caregivers.
Take single day's or even a week's vacation. Just make sure you line up your support system
so you can be confident that your loved one is safe and happy. And when you're away, stay
away. Talk about different things. Read that book you haven't been able to get to. There
is no excuse not to. One of the ways to take a break is to arrange for respite care which
is short term, temporary care provided to someone who needs assistance so that a family
caregiver can take a break from the daily routine and challenges of caring for an aging
adult. Respite services may sometimes involve over-night care for an extended period of
time or just a few hours per day. Respite is often referred to as the gift of time.
While respite care may require some financial outlay, it must be weighed as an option to
support the mental stability and health of the family caregiver. Even using just a couple
of hours of service such as errands and shopping can lessen the burden of care-giving considerably.
Agencies that provide information and respite services are Hospice Care, Home Health Agencies,
In-Home Senior Care Agencies, Social Services, Private Nursing Companies, Senior Centers,
Churches, or the National Family Caregivers Association. Another way to help ease your
stress as a family caregiver is to make sure you eat well. Eat plenty of fresh fruits,
vegetables, proteins including nuts ad beans and whole grains. Indulging in caffeine, fast
food, and sugar as quick pick me ups also produce a quick let down. Take care of yourself.
Just like you make sure your loved one gets to the doctor regularly, make sure you get
your annual checkup. Being a family caregiver provides many excuses for skipping your necessary
checkups, but don't do it. Indulge, treat yourself to a foot massage, manicure, nice
dinner out or a concert to take yourself away from the situation and to reward yourself
for the wonderful care you are providing to your aging relative. You shouldn't feel guilty
about wanting to feel good. Support, find a local caregiver support group that will
help you understand that what you are feeling and experiencing is normal for someone in
your position. This is a place to get practical advice from people who are in your situation
and to bounce off those feelings of stress since everyone is likely to be in the same
situation and can empathize. In the end, remember to maintain your sense of humor. Know that
it is okay to say no to another responsibility and never feel guilty about needing to take
time for yourself. Your health and well-being is of the utmost importance. And taking care
of yourself will allow you to be there for your senior loved one.