Submitted by FirstLight Home Care
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), more than 34 million family caregivers in the United States provide care to an adult who is aging or has a disability. That’s 21% of all U.S. households that are impacted by family caregiving responsibilities.
Caring for a loved one can be a very rewarding experience. The vast majority of family caregivers want to be there when a loved one needs them. At the same time, caring for a family member can take an emotional, physical and financial toll on caregivers and their families – and many don’t realize it until it’s too late.
It is simply exhausting to care for an aging parent or loved one 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The responsibilities and challenges of caregiving is significantly stressful. By spending so much time and energy determining and meeting the needs of the person they are caring for, all too often family caregivers neglect to devote the same attention to their own needs and other family responsibilities.
More often than not, the high stress leads to caregiver burnout. In fact, caregivers often become more susceptible to their own health risks, including depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, and other mental health problems.
November is designated as National Family Caregiver Month, both to show appreciation for the dedication and sacrifice made by family caregivers and to highlight the necessity for assistance to prevent caregiver burnout and exhaustion.
Here are some ways to support a friend or family member who is the caregiver for a loved one:
- Respite break
Whether it’s regular short breaks each week to go to lunch with friends, attend a family or community event, get a massage or have a date night, or longer breaks like a week-long vacation every few months, caregivers need time to spend focused on themselves, away from the endless responsibilities of caregiving. - Training and support groups.
Caregivers need to know they are not alone. Support groups, where they can interact with others who are going through similar circumstances, will help reduce caregiver stress. Taking classes on caregiving can also help family caregivers handle the challenges they must face each day more effectively. - Exercise and health care.
Consistent exercise can alleviate a lot of the symptoms of stress, increase energy and improve one’s mindset. Make sure the caregiver has time each day for some form of physical activity. Also make sure the caregiver can stay up-to-date on preventative medical, dental, and other health exams and that they are given time to visit the doctor when they are getting sick. - Sleep.
Sleep isn’t a luxury. It’s essential for health and well-being. Caregivers should be getting at least seven hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. Because the loved one requiring care might often get up at night, that means the family caregiver needs others to take on the responsibility of care a few nights a week so they can get the necessary rest they need.
Simply put, in order to provide consistent, loving and quality care to the loved one they are caring for, it is essential for family caregivers to also have time to attend to their own needs. Only then will they be prepared to effectively deal with the emotional and physical demands of caregiving.
If other family members are unable or unwilling to assist with the responsibilities of caregiving, FirstLight HomeCare can help. We offer respite care services so that family caregivers can take regular breaks while knowing their loved one is in good, professional and caring hands. Call us for a free comprehensive in-home assessment.
Sarah Lane is a certified Home Care Aide and owner of FirstLight HomeCare — South Sound. To learn more about home care, respite care, dementia care, or any of the non-medical home care services offered by FirstLight HomeCare, give Sarah a call at 360-489-1621 or go to www.southsound.firstlighthomecare.com.
