Caregiving truly takes a special type of person. Any caregiver can tell you they have battled society at one point or another, but they battle themselves almost daily. Many decisions they face are tough calls and almost always second guessed. It is important for other [and extended] family members to offer advice and solutions, but never lay blame to the decisions of the caregiver.
The person who is willing to take on the role of primary caregiver, does so out of pure love. It is one of the most difficult roles to undertake. It is a life changing decision that will become the main focus of this special person. The caregiver may find themselves living a solitary life, with little social interaction. There are no financial rewards, but most often a financial hardship placed on the caregiver.
With that said, I would like to share some thoughts and ideas I have used. Not only to survive the day to day tasks, but to give you the strength to endure over the long haul.
Networking with others in similar positions or situations will not only give you comfort, but it will help in sharing experiences and ideas that could lead to new solutions for your particular situation. It could also afford the means of ‘swapping’ sitting services or other resources that otherwise would not be available to you. Even networking long distance is valuable on several levels. From vacationing to learning the differences of programs and resources available; to learning whether climatic or social differences play any major role, for instance with epilepsy patients –could this affect the amount of seizure activity? Or a patient who suffers arthritis might not experience as much joint pain.
“Me Time” or time for yourself is a must if you wish to maintain good mental health. Scheduling as little as fifteen minutes a day can work wonders, but if possible, you should also schedule at least a half day off each week. Just having a four hour period to do those little things for yourself can literally save your sanity when you are a long term caregiver. And remember, this is time for you personally. This is not time to spend running errands, paying bills or catching up on laundry or cleaning. It is time to spend pampering yourself, whether by soaking in a tub, reading a good book, or simply relaxing in a chair while sipping a good cup of coffee [or tea] and enjoying some idle time. If it is at all possible, a primary caregiver should strive for at least one weekend per month away from all caregiving responsibilities. A spa day or simply treating yourself to a massage can restore your zest and offer your mind and body a wonderful experience. So treat yourself special, because you are!
Writing can be very therapeutic and offer a means of future solutions, coping skills and a healthy way to vent your stress or frustrations. It will also give great insight into patterns developed by yourself or the patient. Good habits can be enhanced and the negative corrected into a positive habit.
A hobby is a must. Depending on your personality, you might take up crafting or painting, others might enjoy cooking and experiment with new recipes. Anything you truly take pleasure in or relaxes your mind and body can be your hobby. The important thing is that you are doing this for the pure pleasure.
Learn to ask for help. Often caregivers will not ask, regardless of how badly they need assistance. They know how demanding their position and will experience guilt at just the thought of asking others to assist. This is a misconception on the part of the caregiver. More often than not, others are more than willing to help. So recruit volunteers to help with household cleaning, laundry, and the myriad of other tasks involved in day to day activity. One person might run your weekly errands, while another does grocery shopping.
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This article written and provided by: O’Della Wilson AKA Alhavakia, published author and freelance writer.I am of firm belief that words are one of the most powerful offerings we possess. Inspire others to aspire to greater things and anything becomes possible.
http://odellawilson.wordpress.com
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/O’Della_Wilson/277373
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