How to Cope During a Crisis When You’re the Family Caregiver
Most family members would say that caring for an aging family member is a great honor and privilege. Whether it’s assisting by washing laundry, buying groceries, preparing meals, or calling to check in, helping out can help seniors remain in the comfort of their own home. However, there may come a time when the caregiving role becomes too intense for family members. Their aging loved ones’ needs demand more time and require more effort than originally planned. Before long, one family member becomes the sole family caregiver, taking on most or all of the caregiving responsibility. As the care needs continue to increase, the family caregiver can find themselves fatigued, exhausted, and burnt out.
When a global pandemic strikes, the role of family caregiver can feel like a burden. Safety becomes of utmost importance. The family caregiver could unknowingly spread COVID-19 to their senior family member. Delivering groceries or assisting with care tasks can be burdensome when the family caregiver must oversee the education of their own children. Travel restrictions that prohibit long-distant family members from visiting inhibit the family caregiver from taking a much-needed break. 
The COVID-19 crisis is causing many family caregivers to experience caregiver burnout like never before. If you are a family caregiver and are at the end of your rope, here are a few ways to help you cope during this pandemic.
Let Go of Perfection
Everyone seems to know the best ways for you to make use of your time at home. From deep cleaning your entire house, to supporting first line responders, there are plenty of suggestions for how you should be spending your time. Before you start feeling guilty over everything that you’re not doing right now, take a deep breath. Recognize that not everyone is in your situation. You alone are responsible for how you use your time each day. If that means that spring cleaning needs to wait until this pandemic is over so that your aging loved one can receive the care they need, then so be it. Prioritize your day based on what you absolutely need to accomplish. Anything else you’re able to do is gravy.
Prioritize Self Care
It may sound selfish, but caring for yourself, especially when you’re a family caregiver, should be a priority. You need to take care of yourself so that you can continue to care for others. Self-care doesn’t need to involve a lot of time. It could be anything from giving yourself five minutes to put on a little makeup, to allowing yourself ten minutes to meditate before bed. Self-care also means you’re making time for exercise, eating nutritious meals, drinking plenty of water, and allowing yourself to get a good night’s sleep.
Ask for Help
As a family caregiver, it’s probably second nature for you to try to do everything on your own. Most family caregivers feel guilty asking for help. However, during a global pandemic, it’s really all hands-on deck. It’s to your mental, emotional, and physical benefit to ask for help. Ask another family member to take care of ordering groceries online for your aging loved one. Ask your immediate family to pitch in with house chores. Select one night a week where you order food from a local restaurant, taking the burden of meal planning and preparation off your shoulders while supporting small businesses. By delegating just one care task, you are making space for yourself.
Another way to ask for help is to reach out to Visiting Angels Punta Gorda. We are proud to be considered essential during the COVID-19 crisis. We offer a variety of senior home care services that enable seniors to remain safely and independently in the comfort of their own homes. We are here for seniors and their families and want to come alongside the family caregiver to support you and give you a much-deserved break. You do not have to wait until this pandemic is over to start receiving the help you need to care for an aging loved one. We are currently offering free consultations via teleconferencing technology, so that everyone can be a part of the conversation. Let us help you. Please contact us today by calling 941-347-8288 Punta Gorda or 239-226-1620 Cape Coral.