What Are the Best Ways to Combat Isolation as a Family Caregiver?
Caregiver Media PA
Suddenly as a family caregiver you can wake up and realize that you’re not spending any time with anyone other than your elderly loved one. You’ve become isolated and it’s not a fun or healthy feeling.
Acknowledge that You’re Feeling Isolated
The first step in solving this problem for yourself is to acknowledge that you’ve allowed yourself to become a bit isolated. Once you can accept and see that this is a problem, you can take steps to solve it. Also, avoid beating yourself up or spending time feeling bad that you’ve allowed the situation to get to this point. That’s energy wasted that you’ll need later.
Contact Friends and Family
Often what happens that allows a family caregiver to become isolated is that you don’t have time to keep up with friends and family and, although they might still invite you to events, you consistently turn those invites down. Gradually, the people in your life stop inviting you to events and stop reaching out because you’re just not available. So a good first step is to reach out to friends and family and let them know that you’re wanting to spend time with them.
Find a Backup for Yourself
The fact that you’re a busy family caregiver hasn’t changed, but you need time to work out of your isolation. Another option is to hire elder care providers who can take over your duties for you in order to allow you your time and space. You might want to start out with short visits from elder care providers to start with, which will help both you and your elderly loved one to become more accustomed to the situation.
Lose the Guilt You Might Feel
Guilt can drive you right back to isolating yourself because you’re the best person to care for your elderly loved one. The problem is, by isolating yourself, you’re not allowing yourself to be a full person and that takes away from your ability to be a good family caregiver. So lose the guilt, step out of isolation, and enjoy your life.
If you’ve let yourself be isolated for a while, it might feel awkward stepping back into life. Don’t let your discomfort keep you isolated.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Caregiver Services in Media PA, please contact the caring staff at True Direct Home Health Care today.
Doc, as he is called by everyone - staff, patients and clients - first experienced home health care and hospice care while as a colleg student at King's College as he cared for his mother every day while she first battled COPD and then lung cancer. It was during this time that he came to understand that caring for a patient was more than just clinical expertise.
"Admittedly, my strongest attribute is my communication skills and the simple fact that I love to help people. Even the smallest thing you can do for someone really can mean so much to them long term. In fact, it could change them forever. That's what providing quality personal home health care should be all about."
In his spare time, he cooks for homeless shelters and children's music and arts events. He also is highly involved in his local youth sports soccer academy as a coach and Board member.
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