Taking care of the elderly or a sick person is not an easy task. It can be very demanding leading to loss of health and confidence. Read on to cope with this.
A slow and steady improvement in lifespan has led to increasing number of elderly people among us. Most elderly people remain active and healthy even when they have certain chronic ailments like diabetes or high blood pressure. But invariably the elderly may become dependent for certain activities. Also diseases like stroke (paralysis), dementia. Alzheimer's. Parkinson, Cancer can make a person rely on someone else to help them with their daily activities.
Family and friends form the first support system to help. It is either the spouse or children who take up the responsibility of providing the needful care for the sick person. This person is called as Care Taker. Most of the times care takers have little training in managing sick or debilitated person.
The initial adjustments start from realigning their work schedule, social activities and personal time. Taking care of the near can becomes demanding resulting in loss of personal choices. There is also the additional stress of taking the decisions like which doctor to visit, whether to get second opinion or not, scheduling appointments with hospitals and taking them there. It can seem daunting.
It is a well established fact that people to take care of sick and elderly can have tremendous stress. This stress can make the person taking care of the near one to lose out on career growth, joys, fitness and health. It can also lead to feelings of guilt. The burden can be daunting. This can result in burnout. Well, there are ways in which you can prevent yourself from this burnout.
1. Take Care Of Yourself: Only when you are healthy and at your best you can take care of your loved one. You need time to refresh and rejuvenate. You can do that by exercising, Yoga, visiting friends or family, attending religious activities if you are religious while someone else takes care of your loved one for that period. Your continued well being is important to take care of your loved one.
2. Learn about the medical condition of your loved one: This way your fears and anxiety will be reduced. Also choose doctors who believe in informed decision making. Making health/medical choices for your loved one can be stressful. Having doctors, nurses and paramedics who help you in decision making can reduce that stress.
3. Recruit People To Help: There is no shame or guilt in taking help from family and friends to take care of your loved one while you get a chance to recover and bounce back. You can also contact organizations and networks which provide support or access to resources or more information. Prana Healthcare is one such organization which sends attenders or nurses home to take care of your loved ones. No matter what you think you can or should do, the truth is you cannot bear the entire responsibility for providing care for a disabled loved one. The longer you expect any different of yourself, the more burned out you're going to get.
4. Learn Coping Mechanism: Taking care of your loved ones can be a lonely affair. This isolation can lead to anger and guilt. Avoid this. Also do not use tobacco, alcohol or prescription drugs to cope with the stress.
Don't forget how important a role you are playing for the care recipient, the family and even the community. It may not have been the life you envisioned leading at this time in your life, but there is great value and nobility in your efforts. Don't forget that you're not an expert. You're a concerned and caring person doing the best you can. Make time to connect with a friend, confidante, counselor or spiritual advisor. Sometimes just having someone listen is more important than what's actually being said.
Many of us internalize our anxiety instead of reaching out for help, as we discussed earlier. Other family members may be waiting for a cue from you -- a more obvious cue than you may think is necessary -- before they get involved.
Care givers can suffer from depression, lower immunity, increase risk for diabetes, heart disease. So learn to take care of yourself.
If you have any questions or need help get in touch with us.
You may also want to read this
A slow and steady improvement in lifespan has led to increasing number of elderly people among us. Most elderly people remain active and healthy even when they have certain chronic ailments like diabetes or high blood pressure. But invariably the elderly may become dependent for certain activities. Also diseases like stroke (paralysis), dementia. Alzheimer's. Parkinson, Cancer can make a person rely on someone else to help them with their daily activities.
Family and friends form the first support system to help. It is either the spouse or children who take up the responsibility of providing the needful care for the sick person. This person is called as Care Taker. Most of the times care takers have little training in managing sick or debilitated person.
The initial adjustments start from realigning their work schedule, social activities and personal time. Taking care of the near can becomes demanding resulting in loss of personal choices. There is also the additional stress of taking the decisions like which doctor to visit, whether to get second opinion or not, scheduling appointments with hospitals and taking them there. It can seem daunting.
It is a well established fact that people to take care of sick and elderly can have tremendous stress. This stress can make the person taking care of the near one to lose out on career growth, joys, fitness and health. It can also lead to feelings of guilt. The burden can be daunting. This can result in burnout. Well, there are ways in which you can prevent yourself from this burnout.
1. Take Care Of Yourself: Only when you are healthy and at your best you can take care of your loved one. You need time to refresh and rejuvenate. You can do that by exercising, Yoga, visiting friends or family, attending religious activities if you are religious while someone else takes care of your loved one for that period. Your continued well being is important to take care of your loved one.
2. Learn about the medical condition of your loved one: This way your fears and anxiety will be reduced. Also choose doctors who believe in informed decision making. Making health/medical choices for your loved one can be stressful. Having doctors, nurses and paramedics who help you in decision making can reduce that stress.
3. Recruit People To Help: There is no shame or guilt in taking help from family and friends to take care of your loved one while you get a chance to recover and bounce back. You can also contact organizations and networks which provide support or access to resources or more information. Prana Healthcare is one such organization which sends attenders or nurses home to take care of your loved ones. No matter what you think you can or should do, the truth is you cannot bear the entire responsibility for providing care for a disabled loved one. The longer you expect any different of yourself, the more burned out you're going to get.
4. Learn Coping Mechanism: Taking care of your loved ones can be a lonely affair. This isolation can lead to anger and guilt. Avoid this. Also do not use tobacco, alcohol or prescription drugs to cope with the stress.
Don't forget how important a role you are playing for the care recipient, the family and even the community. It may not have been the life you envisioned leading at this time in your life, but there is great value and nobility in your efforts. Don't forget that you're not an expert. You're a concerned and caring person doing the best you can. Make time to connect with a friend, confidante, counselor or spiritual advisor. Sometimes just having someone listen is more important than what's actually being said.
Many of us internalize our anxiety instead of reaching out for help, as we discussed earlier. Other family members may be waiting for a cue from you -- a more obvious cue than you may think is necessary -- before they get involved.
Care givers can suffer from depression, lower immunity, increase risk for diabetes, heart disease. So learn to take care of yourself.
If you have any questions or need help get in touch with us.
You may also want to read this
