5 Ways to Revitalize Yourself
Energize your day with these 5 Ways to Revitalize Yourself
One of the toughest parts about being a caregiver is putting your life on hold to care for someone else.
Despite the fact that you love the person you’re caring for, caregiving still takes a toll on your own health and well-being. Long-term caregivers can suffer from high levels of stress that can make them sick.
If you’re a caregiver, we’ve collected some ideas from around the web to help keep you healthy and prevent you from having to use your patient’s medical alarm systems for your own needs.
Sleep
We understand that your loved one’s sleep schedule might have changed. Some seem to never sleep at all while others seem to sleep all day. Coordinate your own sleep schedule with your loved one’s so that you can get between six and eight good hours a night.
Get A Medical Alert System
Having an alarm for medical emergencies gives you a little breathing room. Train your loved one to push the button in case of emergency, and let them go through a couple of trial runs. If they become used to the mobile GPS help button, they will be more prone to use it (and give you a little peace of mind in the process).
Exercise
Exercise provides a well-needed break from your caregiving as well as a chance to work out your frustrations. One of the best ways that we’ve found to really work it out is to take out the boxing gloves and hit a heavy bag. Eat Real Food
We understand that eating food from a take-out box might be necessary since there’s little time but cook, but eating good, nutritious food is not only cheaper, but it can help you stay energized and alert in case the medical alarm systems are activated.
Call for Help
You are NOT alone in caregiving and caregiving issues. While each situation is definitely different, there are still some common threads that run through caregiving relationships. Your doctor, friends, and family are on your side, but you have to ask for that help.
Many people hold a little piece of the caregiving story close them, and through their stories we can be enriched and enlightened about our own caregiving experience. We’ve found some solace at the Caregiving CafC) and other places to find empathy for what might be going through on a daily basis.
You can also give yourself peace of mind by making the space safer for your elderly loved one. Download our free fall prevention tips guide "50+ Ways To Prevent Falls" from our website and share with others.
Having a medical alarm system in place is nice, but it’s sometimes necessary to get away from the caregiving experience in some way. Taking care of yourself is important to the well-being of your loved one just as much as taking care of them. The better you take care of yourself, the better you can take care of others.
