Caregivers Can Make Summer Plans For Self-Care!
I am always in awe of the caregiver who provides excellent care to their disabled or elderly loved one — they are clean and neat in public, ladies with make up on, men have stylish hair cuts and they are happy. I’m not only talking about the disabled or elderly loved one, I’m talking about the caregiver. I love it when the caregiver takes the time to take care of themselves, too. You don’t have to look tired and exhausted, if you find the right balance of caring for your loved one with making time for self-care. You can start today! Summer is an opportunity to start saying “yes” to rebooting and renewing yourself.
There are Three Simple Steps to Jumpstart Caregiver Self-care:
1. Remember who you use to be.
What are those things what once defined who you are?Take time to reflect on your past hobbies and the people you enjoyed being around. Go back through pictures in your phone from months and even years ago to look at pictures of you when you were happy and enjoying life. Start thinking about those things that you have allowed to slip out of your life. Don’t stop here and start to feeling negative about those loses but start looking at them as things that are still within your grasp and YOU must determine that you want to resume those activities.
2. Find a support system.
Who can you call to make arrangements to care for your loved one while you are away for 3 hours, 8 hours, a weekend? Call siblings, friends, church members. Talk to neighbors. If you have isolated yourself, start to reconnect, start reaching out. Accept what they are willing to offer, it may not be much to start but this is the beginning of something that can increase. Start small. Start by making plans to leave the time of day when your loved one needs the least amount of assistance, so that your support person can gradually learn how to provide the care needed. Guard against complaining about the amount of time offered. If you plan properly, you can still make the best of whatever time you have.
3. Make plans for fun!
“Laissez les bons temps rouler!” —“Let the good times roll!” That’s what we say in Louisiana. And this should always start with first making all of your doctor appointments. Take time first, to know what is going on in your body, that you are in good health. Then make plans for fun! Go back to those activities that you identified in step one. Start to look at events and opportunities nearby that you can engage in. Look into a fun class you can take online, get outdoors for a walk, start a patio garden, join a book club, visit a friend. The list is endless.
I hope you are now inspired to make this a fun summer. Never turn down a safe offer for support from others. Your loved one may have a friend who can visit with them for an hour while you sit outside and relax. They can use the break from you as well as the break you need from caregiving. Self-care is essential for healthy survival.
Consuela Marshall, Occupational Therapist
Today’s blog is inspired by a caregiver question to the call-in line of Caregivers Finding A Foothold podcast. To hear questions and other challenges from caregivers in our community, please check out the website FindingAFoothold.com, Episode 8: Use This Summer To Start Self-Care.
If you have a question, please call and allow this community to share hope and tips you can use. Your question may inspire our next blog! Please subscribe to the Caregivers Finding A Foothold podcast. Like use on Facebook and Follow us on Instagram.
Disclaimer: The podcast and blog are intended to provide basic information so that you can become a more informed caregiver. The information presented is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not meant to serve as medical advice or replace consultation with any health care providers you regularly engage with. Transmission or receipt of any of this information is not intended to, and does not, create a therapist-patient relationship. This information is not provided in the course of a therapist-patient relationship and is not intended to constitute medical advice or to substitute for obtaining medical advice from a physician or therapist licensed in the state where your family may reside. We encourage everyone to consult with your physician or therapist to see if they are appropriate and safe for you.