How Do You Provide Care When You Are Hurting?
Hurt is something we all have dealt with, physical and emotion hurt. But when you are a caregiver to an aging parent or disabled spouse, this physical and emotion hurt is often felt everyday. Many caregivers enter into their role of caregiver with this hurt already present in their lives. The hurt often intensifies when they enter into the role and it can prevent them from providing the care that is needed. If the pain is not addressed, and a strategy is not developed to prevent repeated injury, caregivers are often unable to continue the care.
Here are Four Steps Caregivers Can Take To Moving Toward Healing:
1. Identify what the pain is.
Where in your body are you experiencing pain? What pain was present before you assumed the role of caregiver? Many caregivers have a history of pains —back pain, knee pain, neck pain, shoulder pain or hand pain. Being aware of the pain is key.
2. Seek bracing or support.
Many people experience pain in their body because of changes that have occurred in the body. Many have had prior injuries, muscle strains, and joint changes. When this occurs, bracing can be used to provide support of the injured area. A visit to your doctor or therapist is needed.
3. Avoid repetitive movements which cause trauma to the area.
Make a list of activities that you repeatedly do in the course of the day which aggravate your pain. Many caregivers do a lot of lifting, pulling, and tugging. Become aware of what is causing the pain and change the way you are doing things.
4. Learn correct techniques and use equipment or devices which can lessen the stress on your body.
What equipment is available to help with tasks, like getting them out of bed? What is the best way to assist with ADLs —activities of daily living? Learn how to properly setup the environment or position yourself to decrease your risk of pain and injury.
These four steps can help you to move beyond the hurt, to a place of healing. Please know that continuing in the role of a direct caregiver is not always possible. Additional support may be needed. Your health must come first, you must first take care of you. These steps also apply to your emotional hurt, check out the podcast.
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 6: How To Provide Care When You Are Hurting. If you have a question, please call and allow this community to share hope and tips with you.
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.