A Caregiver's New Year's Resolution - Practice Self-Care

Well, here we are a couple of weeks into the New Year. One of the most common topics of conversation around this time of year is New Year’s resolutions and one of the most common resolutions made is to take better care of oneself. People can watch their own self-health by vowing to lose weight, stopping smoking or eating a better breakfast – before relying on the drive-through and splashing down a cup of coffee on the way into work. All of these are very worthwhile – and achievable – goals.

Unfortunately, for a caregiver (and New Year's or no New Year's), self-help frequently falls by the wayside when caring for an aging senior. Caregivers routinely focus the bulk of their time, energy and resources (financial and otherwise) on supporting a loved one. As a former co-caregiver, I speak from experience. Realistically however, one can draw from the well only so many times before the well runs dry. Despite this, caregivers keep giving of themselves (and giving again …) out of obligation or a lack of understanding that they can easily work the equivalent of two full-time jobs. Considering a caregiver’s own career, life, family and self-health, he/she must be able to step back from his/her own caregiving duties to tend to other matters.

Topping that list of “other matters” should be minding one’s own health. Without providing proper self-care, caregivers will struggle to keep a healthy balance. Caregiving can wear one down; a tired and weakened body will not be as strong to fight off infections or heal from injuries. A tired, sick caregiver is no good to anyone and could, easily, pose an increased risk to aging seniors as germs can be passed along.

Self-help doesn’t have to be complex or complicated. My family found Dad (who, at the time, had advancing Alzheimer’s disease) an adult day program. Knowing that Dad was being safely occupied and monitored allowed me some time to think of other things. Work became easier as my mind was not continually wandering throughout the day wondering how Dad was doing. If your loved one is more cognitively aware and independent, take a look at the “Programs and Services” guide for your local senior’s association as many unique classes are frequently offered for a reasonable cost. With a larger family, caregiving duties can be shared, meaning that one sibling doesn’t always need to transport Mom/Dad. If someone else (even a neighbour or a senior’s driving service) can provide pick-up and delivery, your own caregiving time will be lessened.

If you think that taking some time for you is selfish, please think again! Caregivers need quality time to relax, unwind or attend to other matters. Even taking 15 minutes per day can make a world of difference!