The role of a family caregiver is filled with unexpected occurrences, some positive and some frustrating. Those highs and lows are easily balanced if you make sure you take care of yourself while also caring for your mom. The key to being a happy family caregiver starts with self-care.
When you find yourself so busy helping your mom out every day, how are you supposed to also take care of yourself? What is the key to being a happy family caregiver?
Learn to Release Stress
Find a way to release stress. If left to build up over time, stress can lead to anxiety attacks. If anxiety attacks keep happening, they can make you scared to leave the home for fear of losing control in front of others. It can also trigger depression.
Engage in things that help you release stress, such as exercise programs like Yoga or kickboxing. You might find that escaping to another world in a book helps you release stress. Painting, knitting, gardening, and baking are other hobbies that help people relax.
Eat the Right Foods
Are you a stress eater? Do you find yourself so busy that fast food and takeout are just easier? A poor diet can make you feel worse. If you’re not getting the right nutrients, your body doesn’t get the nutrients it needs for energy and cell health.
Your diet should focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and high fiber. You want dairy for calcium and vitamin D. If you struggle to find suitable meal plans, look at the Mediterranean diet for guidance.
It’s generally recognized as one of the best diets to follow as extra virgin olive oil, vegetables, and whole grains dominate the food pyramid, but socialization, dining together, and exercise are the most important components. Red meats, sugary treats, and butter are the items one should eat sparingly.
Spend Time Outside
Get outside every day whenever possible. Take a walk that lasts at least 30 minutes. If the weather isn’t cooperating, try multiple shorter walks each day until the weather warms up. If you cannot get outside, make sure you’re exercising inside for a minimum of 30 minutes per day.
Schedule Home Care Assistance and Take Breaks
What is the most important part of self-care? Bringing in home care assistance to offer you respite and your senior support at the same time. Make sure someone is available to take over while you take a break. You have a chance to go away for a long weekend. Take it!
If you’re unable to leave your mom alone, arrange home care assistance services while you’re away. Respite care is a service where a professional caregiver takes over while you have time off. Your mom’s care needs are covered, so you get to go on your trip and not have to worry.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care assistance in Dover, MA, please contact the caring staff at PlatinumCare + today. Call (617) 237-0867
PlatinumCare + was born out of the desire and passion to provide the very best home health care possible in Brookline, Dover, Newton, Needham, Watertown, Weston, Cambridge, Lincoln, Sudbury, Belmont, Boston MA, and surrounding areas.
All with decades of experience, Tim in IT Operations, Support, and Management, Brenda in Client Relations, Healthcare Services & Sales Management, and Anne in Healthcare as a Nurse Practitioner combined their skills to form what is now PlatinumCare +.
As immigrants to the US, all came from backgrounds where Healthcare for aging parents was a responsibility of the immediate family and the entire community. Aging, sick, or terminal community members were cared for physically, emotionally, and financially by family, friends, including strangers! This community approach, Healthcare with a difference, delivered with the utmost love, care, sacrifice, and passion, forms the basis of how PlatinumCare + grounds itself.
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