Caring for Elders – and Keeping Your Batteries Charged

Taking care of the caregiver is important. If you hire a home health aide (see: Home Care Partners), they need to re-charge. If you, or a family member is providing care and assistance for elderly parents, you need to re-charge. Staying healthy is important.

Following up on last week’s post, here are some additional tips to keep “batteries charged”:

— Accept Help. Manage your resources. You don’t need to do everything yourself. Home Care Partners is one of many homecare agencies which provides trained care staff for elders at home. Take the time to think about what kind of help you need, and when you really need it. This may be one of the best things you can do for yourself, and your loved one.

— Respite. Make a point of carving out some time for yourself. A needed break. A luncheon with friends, a movie, or dinner at a favorite restaurant. How about a walk in the park, or on the beach. Simple, short refreshers can do wonders for your attitude and health. Get away, if only for a short break, from your immersion in caregiving. The tasks of caregiving will be waiting when you return with a fresh mindset and perspective.

— Get Enough Sleep: This can be difficult when you are on someone else’s schedule. Home Care Partners carefully monitors our care staff hours so as to schedule substitution and avoid burn-out. Sleep is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Eight hours may be perfect, but may also be impractical and nearly impossible. Take a nap during the day. This can refresh you mentally and physically, and may be just the thing you need to get through the rest of your day.

— Exercise: Whether inside or outside, there are simple exercises that can help to keep you refreshed. Almost anything will help. Walk around the block a few times a day when you have a few spare minutes. Sit-ups, leg squats, push-ups all can be done quickly. Try yoga, or something that will exercise your muscles and provide some relaxation. Many people meditate, gaining a calmness through quiet and peaceful surroundings.

JD Miller

About JD Miller

John D. Miller is the founder/owner of Home Care Partners, LLC, a Massachusetts business providing private duty, personalized in-home assistance and companion care services to those needing help in daily activities and household functions. Phone: (781) 378-2164 Email: [email protected] Website: https://homecarepartnersma.com
SHARE IT:

Comments are closed.