Importance of Focusing on Your Own Needs When You are a Caregiver
The whole point of you being a family caregiver for your elderly parent is to make sure that their needs are met and that they are able to live the highest quality of life possible. As you are focusing your time, energy, efforts, and resources to accomplishing this goal, however, it is critical that you do not forget about yourself.
Homecare Broomall PA – Importance of Focusing on Your Own Needs When You are a Caregiver
As a caregiver you are far more vulnerable to stress and the complications related to stress than those who do not take on this role. Focusing on your own needs and being sure that you take care of yourself throughout your caregiver journey is essential to preserving your own health and well-being, and to making sure that you give your parent the level of care that they deserve.
Some of the ways that taking care of your own needs is important when you care for your parent include:
• Physical health. Not taking care of yourself can put physical and emotional strain on you, making you more vulnerable to infections and illness. This not only runs you down and diminishes your quality of life, but it puts your parent at greater risk as well. Keep in mind that seniors have a lower immune system than younger people, making it more likely that they will develop an illness or infection, and making it harder for them to fight these off if they do occur.
• Emotional health. When you do not take the time to take care of your own needs, you make yourself more vulnerable to stress. This can quickly lead to anxiety, depression, loss of motivation, and burnout. When you are dealing with these issues you cannot be the quality of caregiver that your parent deserves, and you also cannot be what you need to be for your children, your partner, your career, or for anyone else who might rely on you.
• Future quality of life. Your care journey will not last forever. When it does come to an end it is important that you have a meaningful life to look forward to. It is easy to lose yourself in your caregiver role, focusing completely on your parent’s needs and giving them everything they need. It is important that you remember yourself and your value so that you can continue on after this chapter of your life comes to an end.
Being a family caregiver for your aging loved one does not mean that you have to take on all of the responsibilities for your senior completely by yourself. Starting elder homecare for your loved one can be an exceptional way to ensure that any care gaps that might exist in your care routine are filled and that you are able to focus on other elements of your life while still feeling confident that your aging parent is getting everything that they need to stay healthy, happy, and comfortable as they age in place.
With this type of arrangement, you are able to give your parent all of the care that you are able to, and rely on the elderly homecare services provider to manage other tasks that you are unable to do because of your own limitations, difficulties, or schedule. This supports a close relationship, reduces the risk of caregiver stress, and helps your parent to live a lifestyle that is as active, engaged, and fulfilled as possible throughout their later years.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Homecare Services in Broomall 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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