Caregiving Changes Your Life But Don’t Lose Hope!
The life that you once lived can become a blurred dream of long ago, when you enter into the role of caregiver to your aging parents or disabled spouse. The dreams you once had can easily be replaced by a non-stop video clip of negative replays of feelings of hopelessness. Please know you do not have to stay in this place of despair.
There are 4 Steps To Regain Hope While Providing Care To Your Aging Parents:
Find Yourself Again.
Write down activities that you once engaged in that have now been replaced with caregiving tasks. Think about the places you use to go, the people you use to visit, the hobbies you once enjoyed, and the thing that you did for yourself that made you feel wanted, attractive and energetic.
Separate From The Negative Noise.
This noise can come from within or from others. Refrain from only seeing what is wrong in your situation, try to focus on the positive affects of what you are doing. Avoid constant negative feedback that others offer, those that offer no help to fix the problem, or be a part of the solution.
Seek A Support Group:
Make a list of your struggles and what you would like to see change. Seek out a support system of trusted friends and professionals — physicians, psychological therapy, physical therapy, support groups, spiritual groups, or friends that can provide objective insight and offer solutions to your problems. Arm yourself with practical solutions and begin to make the changes needed.
Continue Smart Giving while Living Your Life.
Caregiving will not stop as you work to regain your life. Find ways of providing safe, simplified ways of providing care. Find a healthy way of merging your life interests and your role as caregiver. Find time daily, weekly and monthly to get away, to separate from the physical and emotional stress of caregiving. When physical separation is not possible, you can bring the activities to you, virtually or in person.
So remember, caregiving will change your life. You will have to make many changes and sacrifices, but you do not have to lose yourself in the process. You can provide care for your loved one and still have a fulfilling life.
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 and Episode 5: Four Steps To Regain Hope While Providing Care to Your Aging Parents.
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.
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.