Caregiver Respite: 4 ways to make time for yourself
Caregiver Respite: 4 ways to make time for yourself
Are you a caregiver for a senior loved one? If so, you probably focus on that person throughout much of your day (and night). Their needs, wants and wishes may come first. Are they too hot or too cold? Are they comfortable? Hungry? Are they drinking enough water? What can I do to increase their physical or mental strength? These are all valid concerns.
But what about YOU? What are your needs, wants and wishes? What about your physical and mental strength? Your days are long; sometimes you feel like you had a 32-hour day. It is as important for caregivers to take time for themselves as it is for them to care for the ones they love. If you are not at your best, physically or mentally, it will be harder for you to take care of them.
Here are 4 ways you can energize your body and spirit. Pick one and start today:
Workout. Go to a gym, park or even just around the neighborhood. Whether you walk, run, or lift weights, exercise is important to keep you feeling good, both physically and mentally. Schedule the time, like any other appointment, to get it done on a regular basis. Start with 10 minutes. Start today. There is a personal trainer three doors west of our Center.- Schedule a spa day. It’s nice to take your loved one to get her nails or hair done so she feels better about herself. But what about you? Take time once-in-a-while to get a mani/pedi, massage, facial or other spa service. Why? Just because! Go somewhere calm and relaxing and let the troubles of the day just melt away, even for a little while. You’ll come out feeling refreshed! There is a Mario Tricoci 150 feet from our Center.
- Have a hobby. You think, “How can I have a hobby when I have my kids and husband to take care of, plus being a caregiver for my loved one (and possibly a job too)?” It could be as easy as regularly getting a new book from the library or more time-consuming as taking a class. The point is that you are learning something and growing. This is about you, not your family or co-workers. If you take part in something you enjoy, you will be more engaged mentally. There is an antique store five doors west of our Center; lots of cool items to look at as you enjoy some me-time.
- Spend time with friends. We stress the importance of socialization for seniors. It helps to improve their attitude, reduces the risk of mental health issues like depression, and lowers blood pressure. The same is true for their caregivers. You spend a lot of time taking care of your loved one, but you also need time to be social with your friends. Have lunch, meet for drinks, or do one of the above items with a friend. It’s important for you to socialize with people outside of your family! Some of our favorite spots include Crosstown Pub & Grill, Sullivan’s, Top Golf and Ogden 6 Movie Theater (inexpensive and THE best popcorn on earth).
Workout. Go to a gym, park or even just around the neighborhood. Whether you walk, run, or lift weights, exercise is important to keep you feeling good, both physically and mentally. Schedule the time, like any other appointment, to get it done on a regular basis. Start with 10 minutes. Start today. There is a personal trainer three doors west of our Center.
Just because! Go somewhere calm and relaxing and let the troubles of the day just melt away, even for a little while. You’ll come out feeling refreshed! There is a Mario Tricoci 150 feet from our Center.
Spend time with friends. We stress the importance of socialization for seniors. It helps to improve their attitude, reduces the risk of mental health issues like depression, and lowers blood pressure. The same is true for their caregivers. You spend a lot of time taking care of your loved one, but you also need time to be social with your friends. Have lunch, meet for drinks, or do one of the above items with a friend. It’s important for you to socialize with people outside of your family! Some of our favorite spots include Crosstown Pub & Grill, Sullivan’s, Top Golf and Ogden 6 Movie Theater (inexpensive and THE best popcorn on earth).Make sure you take time for yourself!
Not only is it hard being a caregiver, it is also hard to take time for yourself when you are caring for a senior loved one. That is one of the reasons Naperville Senior Center is here; to create a ‘home away from home’ for your senior loved one AND give the caregiver, you, time to yourself. Whether you need time to run errands, work in the garden, catch up on chores, be more productive at work, get to the gym, take a class or just take a nap, we provide a safe, fun environment for our Members.
Each day our Members spend time socializing, verbalizing, improvising, evangelizing, visualizing, exercising, having fun, and a host of other activities to provide mental and physical stimulation.
Call to action: to learn more about how NSC can provide a respite for you and a great social environment for your loved one, contact us at 630.857.3017. You can also schedule a tour to see what we have to offer and understand the Naperville Senior Center experience, “Home Away From Home.”
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A Sense of Purpose. One of the things that older people miss the most once they retire or become ill is a sense of purpose. They need a reason to get up in the morning! Spending day after day at home alone waiting for family or friends to come by can be isolating. Your loved one could be at risk of developing depression. Enrolling them in senior day care can restore a sense of purpose to their lives and give them a reason to be excited about getting up every day.
Nutrition. Adult Day Care also benefits an individual’s nutrition. Many seniors end up not cooking nutritious meals for themselves because they don’t want to eat alone. Sometimes they just don’t want to make a full meal for themselves. In addition, they may not feel confident using the stove or cooking with heavy pots and pans. When your loved ones attend adult day care, they are getting at least one nutritious meal each day and eating in the company of others.
Mental Stimulation. Seniors need mental stimulation and often they don’t get enough. Activities, crafts, trips, and just being around other people can help your loved ones exercise their mental muscles. This helps them stay sharp and alert for longer periods of time. Studies have shown that seniors who don’t receive enough social interaction lose their mental faculties at a much faster rate than seniors who have strong social ties and get out of the house for activities and social occasions on a regular basis.
These caregivers help their loved ones maintain a decent quality of life, without having to go to a nursing home or other facility. But the strain on caregivers can be great. According to AARP, the ‘typical’ caregiver is a middle-aged female who is married (or living with a partner) and works outside the home. It is likely that this caregiver also has children. So she is caring for her parents or other loved one, her spouse, her children and maintaining a job. That is a lot to ask of anyone!
Caregivers should not feel guilty leaving their loved ones at Naperville Senior Center. We truly are their “home away from home.” Our Members can socialize and make new friends, overcome obstacles, walk longer distances, improve hand eye coordination, increase muscle strength, increase endurance, and improve their quality of life!
Practice Mindfulness: If your focus is always on other people, then it can be hard to get in touch with your own thoughts and feelings. To combat this, many caregivers are turning to mindfulness meditation for self care. It’s easier than it sounds. Mindfulness is simply the practice of slowing down your day and focusing on how YOU feel. For instance, when was the last time you paid attention to what it feels like to take a nice walk? Whether it means focusing on parts of your day that you already enjoy or going on YouTube and finding a seated meditation, mindfulness is a positive way to reconnect and refresh.
Get Some Sleep: We all know what difference a good night’s sleep can make. From improving mood to improving health, those precious 8 hours do so much for our well-being. Unfortunately, caregivers have a lot on their minds and often lose sleep because of it. If you can, try putting aside your caregiver duties one-hour before you go to sleep. Set that time aside for winding down (away from the TV!) and preparing to go to bed. If that hour is not an option, a quick 20 minute nap in the day can serve as a quick self care fix. Bottom line: your body needs sleep so find time for it!
The best way to combat boundaries issues is to have a conversation. Explain how your life has been getting stressful and the ways you need to be accommodated as both a caregiver and a family member. Remind them that you need time for yourself, just like you did before you became a caregiver. Odds are they will understand. If they don’t, then keep trying to explain. It may take more than one conversation, so don’t feel that you have to push it all at once.
Each day Members spend time socializing, verbalizing, improvising, evangelizing, visualizing, exercising, having fun, and a host of other activities to provide mental and physical stimulation.