Caregiving Without The Chaos

It’s always amazing to bump into talented and motivated individuals who are willing to share their know-how and personal views with the world. Such a person is Jackie Waters. She is a mother of four beautiful boys, a creator of Hyper Tidy, and one of our readers.

Her first article “3 Ways to Manage Chronic Back Pain” was a true success. and just the beginning of our mutual collaboration!

Here is her next blog post on caregiving in a tidy manner! Enjoy the article, comment, and share!

And if you have a health-related topic in mind and a talent to put ideas into words, don’t hesitate to contact us!

You’ll never fill out a job application for a position as an unpaid caregiver, but it’s a title most of us will take on at some point in our lives, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance.

About 44 million Americans provide 37 billion hours of informal care annually for adult friends and family members with health conditions or chronic illnesses. These unpaid assistants help with everyday activities such as bathing, making meals, and managing medications.

At the same time, most caregivers are holding full- or part-time jobs and could also be raising children. For many, caregiving becomes a sort of a second career, with nearly one in five helpers putting in more than 40 hours a week providing a helping hand to adult friends and family members.

Even though caregiving is a true labor of love for most, the time and effort it takes can be overwhelming. Here are a few tips to help manage caregiving responsibilities without neglecting your own needs.

One of the first steps you should take as a caregiver is learning as much as possible about your loved one’s needs and medical conditions. This can help everyone involved, including family members and close friends, create a long-term care plan. If possible, that planning process should include the person who needs care, with them putting their healthcare and financial wishes on paper to prepare for a time when they might not be able to share such important information.

Investigate and take advantage of community resources, such as Meals on Wheels and adult day care centers. While you may feel uneasy about leaving your loved one’s care to someone else, it’s important to explore respite care options early in the planning process not only to give yourself a break from the daily demands of caregiving, but to have backup care in place in case of emergencies. It is also a good idea to research online and in-person support groups for yourself to help address the inevitable questions and concerns with a cadre of like-minded caregivers.

Helping a loved one handle everyday tasks, especially over a long term, can take a toll on the mental and physical health of the caregiver, too. In fact, caregivers are more likely to show signs of depression and anxiety. Too little sleep and exercise and an unbalanced diet driven by speed and convenience can also put caregivers at higher risk for health conditions including diabetes and heart disease, according to the Mayo Clinic.

You can’t provide the best care for your loved one if you’re not in good health, so it’s critical for caregivers to make time for themselves. Don’t be afraid to enlist and accept help from friends and family members. It’s okay to let someone else host holiday dinners this year if you’re feeling too taxed to think about turkey. Even delegating seemingly small tasks like weekly grocery shopping trips can carve time from your stacked schedule for a workout.

It’s also important to set your own personal wellness goals while attending to the health and happiness of your loved one. For instance, committing to preparing healthy meals at home rather than relying on processed foods could help you both eat better; stocking your refrigerator and pantry with healthy snacks and doing weekly meal prep sessions will take time and stress away from this important to-do list item. And, while you might be busy making and attending medical appointments with the person in your care, you also schedule screenings and regular appointments for yourself.

Although unpaid caregiving can be one of the most challenging occupations out there, it often offers rewards much more valuable than money. Research shows many caregivers develop a strong sense of satisfaction and increased levels of self-worth and confidence because of their invaluable contributions to a loved one’s care. Hopefully, some of these suggestions will help you reap those same rewards.