Practicing resilience is a key component of being happy as a home caregiver. Looking after senior loved ones can be mentally and physically exhausting if you don’t have the tools for helping with once simple tasks they performed themselves. Daily routines can become tedious for home caregivers if they allow themselves to become overwhelmed. Many people who find themselves offering assistance to parents who once took care of them as children find their new circumstances difficult to adapt to. A positive outlook can transform once seemingly insurmountable obstacles into challenges that can be faced. If you’re caring for an aging loved one, take a moment or two to step back from your daily grind to practice resilience. You’ll find that you feel less stressed and overwhelmed, enabling you to do your job as a caregiver. Follow these 5 simple tips.
1. Refocus Your Mind
Too often it’s easy to see only the sadness and challenges of keeping up with taking care of your loved one. You can’t control the progression of aging and diseases, but you must try to find another focus. Focus on the importance of your role as a caregiver as being meaningful and having worth.
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 Philadelphia 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.
2. Learn to Accept Your Role, Even if You Didn’t Choose It
As you learn to understand and accept your role, you’ll find your job becomes easier and you’ll be a better caregiver. Caregiving has a learning curve, and no one is perfect right out of the gate—or ever. Praise yourself for the things that go well, like getting to a doctor’s appointment on time. Learn to let go of small things that don’t go well, like forgetting to make a bed one day
3. Maintain and Form Other Relationships
Although being a caregiver is time-consuming, it shouldn’t consume your entire sense of being. Make sure to stay in contact with friends and family members. Talking out your frustrations and having sounding boards as support can help you.
Consider hiring a professional caregiver so you have more time to socialize with friends and family. When considering homecare, families should make sure their senior loved ones have the resources they need to maintain their independence and remain healthy. Trusted in-home care professionals can assist seniors with daily tasks like cooking, bathing, and exercise, and they can also encourage them to focus on healthier lifestyle habits.
4. Think Happy Thoughts
The power of positive thinking is real, and if you learn to focus on the humor in situations, you’ll find yourself in a better mood and better able to tackle whatever caregiving throws at you.
5. Don’t Forget about Yourself
Caregivers often feel a sense of guilt for needing a break or time to care for themselves. Finding time to yourself to relax and destress is key and will help you maintain your perspective. Although caregiving is an important part of your life, it’s not your entire life.
Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing. If you’re caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide respite care. Philadelphia families who want to prevent 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. Reach out to one of our friendly Care Managers today at (215) 645-4663 to schedule a free in-home consultation.