If you’re providing care for a senior loved one, your entire focus might be on his or her wellbeing. However, many caregivers end up sick, exhausted, depressed, or burned out because they completely neglect themselves. Self-care is essential for all caregivers who want to provide high-quality care to their loved ones. Here are a few ways family caregivers can boost their own wellbeing.
Get Some Rest
Many caregivers continue to take care of their loved ones even when they are sick. Overexerting yourself is a bad idea because your loved one may get sick too, and it’s almost impossible to get well when you’re busy running around. Constantly ignoring an illness could leave you feeling exhausted for weeks. It’s better to call in reinforcements to help your loved one so you can get well as soon as possible.
Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing. If you are caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide respite care. Roseville families who want to avoid burnout can turn to Home Care Assistance. One of our professional caregivers can assist your loved one at home while you take a nap, go to work, run errands, or go on vacation.
Stay Physically Active
Exercising on a regular basis can help you avoid depression, get rid of stress, and sleep better at night. Try to add exercise to your daily routine. Even 10 minutes of yoga or a walk around the block can get your blood circulating and loosen up your muscles. Many caregivers prefer physical activities that help them blow off steam and reduce stress. Some exercise options for caregivers include tai chi, boxing, and running.
Plan a Vacation
Spending a few days without having to take care of your loved one is essential for maintaining your emotional health, avoiding burnout, and regaining your strength. You don’t have to travel to some exotic destination to get these benefits. Just relaxing and not having to worry about your loved one for a weekend might be enough.
Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Roseville Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
Ensure Adequate Sleep
If you’re a busy caregiver, you might feel like you never have time for sleep. However, sleep is an essential part of staying healthy. Sleep helps you feel alert, focused, and ready to care for your loved one each morning. Getting between seven to eight hours of rest each night is so important that you may want to consider hiring an overnight caregiver if your loved one needs help at night.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Your body is unlikely to feel well if you’re constantly snacking on junk food and using sugar for energy boosts. The time required to cook a balanced meal with plenty of protein, healthy fats, whole grains, and antioxidant-rich produce is worth it because it can help you maintain your strength and energy.
Hiring a professional caregiver is a good way to reduce your caregiving burden to focus on your own wellbeing. If you are the primary caregiver for a senior family member and are looking for professional Roseville live-in care Home Care Assistance should be your top choice. Our dedicated and compassionate caregivers are committed to helping older adults manage their health and enjoy a higher quality of life in the golden years. To create a comprehensive in-home care plan for your aging parent, give us a call at 916.226.3737 today.