subject: Home Care for Seniors - Key Advice For Family Care Givers [print this page] Home Care for Seniors - Key Advice For Family Care Givers
Home care for seniors is a troublesome and nerve racking job. Are you affected by the following?Irritation, agitation, and continuous exhaustion? Eating too much, gaining weight, having difficulty keeping food down, shedding weight without trying? Sleeping all the time, sitting and 'out like a light' - or can't go to sleep, can't stay asleep? Can't focus, can't concentrate, can't make one more decision, failed to feed the pet, brush teeth, take out the rubbish, pay the bills - again? No energy, no pep, just don't feel well?These are common experiences of the care giver. The dirty little secret of the burdens on caregivers and the consequences of these burdens is sometimes not only not spoken of, they're more often not even realized.When we're under stress as carers, it is important to have outlets for relief and to intermittently recharge ourselves. Otherwise we do harm to ourselves and everybody around us.Your first job as a caregiver is to take care of yourself. That's usually tough to do, and a last minute addition for lots of us, but we want to make sure we survive and stay powerful, in order to do the best job we will.Research habitually shows that the mix of loss, extended stress, the physical demands of caregiving, and competing demands on obligations and time place the caregiver in peril for significant health Problems as well as an earlier death. If you cannot help yourself, you can not help anyone else, and everyone loses.Help can come from community resources, family, buddies and executives. Ask them. Don't wait till you are overwhelmed and exhausted or your health fails. Reaching out for help when you want it is a sign of personal strength.Find a support group. Use your personal network of friends and family. A support group for carers targeted to living with similar issues that you face can offer not simply a protected haven, but tips for daily living. There's great strength in knowing you are not aloneHire others to help with caregiving. If at all possible, you may want to hire help. The most significant thing is to find trustworthy folk to provide assistance. Use counseled home care agencies, talk with mates about their experiences and interview executives before deciding on the one you're going to keep.Look after your health . Get good nutrition, lots of sleep, and regular exercise to remain in top health. Clean your hands continually to stop colds and influenza. Manage your stress with laughter, a prayer or a big breath. Nourish your soul with a little taste of activities that recharge your batteries like writing in your book or gardening. Eventually, talk to your physician if you feel depressed or anxious.Joan Van De Moortel is Executive Director of Care for You, Inc., a Washington DC senior home care services provider specializing in senior companion programs for independent living. Get more tips for home care givers at http://careforyou.us
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