The issue you raise is an important one. It would help me to answer your question if I knew more about your situation. That is, whether you are responsible for an adult or a child, for how many hours a week and are there possibilities to expect another person to provide relief?
The issue of caregiver self-care has become a public health issue because many caregivers suffer from physical and mental illnesses. The reason is, because the heavy demands of taking care of another person who is ill and/or dependent, leaves little space for the caregiver to attend to their own physical and mental health needs. In addition, there is often no time to work outside the home which causes financial strain. Consequently, the caregiving role may be such that the caregiver does not eat well, get enough sleep, exercise and/or socialize; in other words, the caregiver tends to ignore her/his physical and emotional condition
So the first priority of self care for caregivers should be to make time for eating well and find opportunities to engage in some relaxing exercise. Sometimes, this might initially seem impossible because of the heavy burden of caregiving. If you recognize the importance of maintaining your own health, ideas might begin to flow as you strategize ways you can eat healthy and fit a 20 minute walk into your week. It might help to list all of the caregiving needs and see how you can arrange them to have some time for yourself.
It is sometimes difficult to ask others for help because of fear of imposing on others or fear of being turned down. It is usually better if you have one-on-one conversations with a person who might be willing to help and refer to your list of caregiving needs to see if they will assume one of them that fits their skills and their schedule.
There are many caregiver support groups available in person and online. They are valuable for emotional support, learning how others cope with the stresses you are experiencing and providing you with an opportunity for social interaction.
We have listed below information about opportunities for caregiver support, financial support and educational resources:
Eldercare Locator – (800) 677-1116
A nationwide service that connects seniors and their caregivers with reputable local support resources.
Family Caregiver Alliance – (800) 445-8106
FCA provides services, education programs, and resources to help people manage the complex demands of caregiving.
National Family Caregiver Support Program
The NFCSP provides a range of support options that help families and caregivers care for their loved ones at home.
National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) – (202) 918-1013
The NAC is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of family caregivers and their care recipients through research, innovation, and advocacy.
Caregiver Action Network (CAN) – (202) 454-3970
CAN is a non-profit organization that offers free education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers all over the country.
AARP Family Caregiving – (877) 333-5885
Offers a wealth of information about issues affecting caregivers. It also provides free care guides, legal checklists, an online community, and a caregiver support line.
National Institute on Aging (NIA) – (800) 222-2225
Offers an extensive list of online articles on common age-related problems, including a caregiving section that tackles long-term care, Alzheimer’s caregiving, long-distance caregiving, etc.
