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What Are the Best Ways to Manage Caregiver Stress?

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Senior Care in Folsom CA

One of the biggest things you can do for yourself as a family caregiver is to learn how to manage your stress. Once you learn how to do that effectively you’ll find that you’re better able to take care Senior-Care-in-Folsom-CAof your loved one and anything else that life throws your way.

Understand That You Have Resources

There are tons of resources available for family caregivers, but unfortunately, many caregivers aren’t aware of them. Start with your loved one’s doctor and senior care providers and work your way through the different resources to find the right ones for you. You may be able to find local chapters of national organizations that help sufferers of the same illnesses that your loved one lives with, for example. Keep looking until you find the help that you and your loved one need.

Schedule in Breaks and Take Them

It’s one thing for family caregivers to schedule breaks for themselves, but more often than not something will come up at the last minute and caregivers feel guilty if they go ahead and take that break. This winds up meaning that family caregivers don’t tend to take those breaks that they so desperately need. Make sure that you’re not only putting breaks onto your calendar but that you enforce them for yourself. If you don’t, your stress levels will take over and you’ll feel worse than ever.

Find a Set of Techniques That Works for You

As a family caregiver, you’re going to want to find methods to relax that work for you. You might want to try meditation, breathing exercises, or even just exercise itself. Whatever you think might work to help you relax, give it a fair trial before you decide whether or not it’s right for you. Try also to build up a list of three or four techniques that work for you so that you always have a technique to turn to when you’re feeling stressed.

Take Your Health Seriously

Family caregivers are often so worried about their loved one’s health that their own takes a back seat. The reality is that you have to be diligent about taking care of your own health, too. When you let yourself get run down, you’re more likely to succumb to both stress and to illness.

The sooner that you take steps to manage your stress, the sooner you can get it under control and continue to be the excellent caregiver that you want to be.

If you or an aging loved one needs senior care in Folsom, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.

Jay Bloodsworth

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