Five Ways Caregivers Can Destress

If you are between the ages of 49 and 62, you are likely caring for an aging loved one. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, approximately 34.2 million caregivers provide unpaid care to an older adult. Overall, the average caregiver is a 49-year-old woman who works outside the home and provides 20 hours per week of unpaid care to her mother. Over the last few years, the number of men becoming primary caregivers has been on the rise. Male family caregivers are more likely to assist with finances, shopping, cooking, and/or transportation than assisting with more personal care.

Spousal caregivers are also on the rise as the average U.S. life expectancy continues to increase. One in ten family caregivers is providing care for a spouse or partner. Spousal caregivers are more likely to provide more hours of care. On average, they provide 44.6 hours per week of caregiving support.

It's evident that family caregivers sacrifice a lot of their personal time to care for an aging loved one. Many do so to their own health's detriment. The toll of caregiving can worsen the health of the caregiver over time. It's critical that family caregivers make time for themselves to reduce their risk for caregiver burnout.

April is National Stress Awareness Month. No one is entirely immune to stress. In fact, some stress is essential for human survival. However, chronic stress can be debilitating. It can also be an underlying cause of many chronic health conditions. If you are a family caregiver, know that you are highly at risk for experiencing caregiver stress. Reduce your risk for caregiver stress by taking time for yourself. Here are five ways caregivers can destress.

Step Away

No matter how much you love your aging loved one, providing care can be exhausting. Sometimes you just need to step away and take a much-needed break. Taking time away gives caregivers a chance to focus on themselves, catch up on sleep, or focus on their own to-do list. When caregivers step away, they are essentially rejuvenating themselves to continue to provide the best care for their aging loved ones. Stepping away also gives caregivers perspective and can help strengthen the relationship between caregiver and care recipient.

Find a Hobby

When a family member transitions to a family caregiver's role, one of the first activities they drop are their personal leisure pursuits. Taking care of an aging loved one takes time. Many caregivers report that they just don't have time to engage in their favorite hobbies. However, making time to engage in a hobby, even if it's once a week or once a month, can help the caregiver maintain their sense of identity. It can also help prevent feelings of resentment from creeping into the relationship. Most hobbies are excellent ways to relieve stress.

Maintain a Self-Care Routine

A great way for caregivers to destress is through maintaining a self-care routine. Self-care doesn't need to be time-consuming. It's more about prioritizing your personal health and wellness so that you can care for others. Self-care is ongoing and includes healthy eating, exercise, adequate sleep, hygiene, social connections, and open communication. Caregivers should never feel guilty for maintaining a self-care routine. Self-care supports a healthy lifestyle so that the caregiver can continue to help and support their aging loved one.

Join a Support Group

Another way for caregivers to destress is by joining a support group. Support groups are safe places for family caregivers to vent feelings and gain perspective. Many support groups provide education so that caregivers can provide care more effectively and efficiently. They can also provide referrals for services and they are a valuable source of information for resources available in the area.

Accept Help

Finally, to de-stress, caregivers need to accept help. It's difficult for many family caregivers to accept help because they often feel that only they can provide the best care for their aging loved ones. Spousal caregivers often don't want to burden their adult children with caregiving tasks, so they too are guilty of not accepting help. To overcome this, make a list of ways that others can help and support you. Maybe it's letting someone else take care of the laundry or asking a friend to sit with your loved one while you go for a thirty-minute walk. Only when caregivers accept help will they be able to find time to step away and relax.

If you are a family caregiver, know that you do not need to walk this journey alone. Visiting Angels Cape Coral North Fort Myers is here to support family caregivers so that they can destress. Our compassionate and competent caregivers can assist your aging loved one so that you have time to step away and relax. You can count on us to go the extra mile to tailor our services to your loved one's unique care requirements and preferred routines. Every senior we work with receives a customized care plan based on their requested forms of support and their family members' input. For more information about our home care services, please contact us by calling 239-226-1620.