Living Well for Your Mind & Body as a Family Caregiver

November is Family Caregiver Month and to honor those special individuals who take on this role, we want to provide you with tips and support as you navigate this chapter in your life.

Taking care of your mental health is one of your greatest assets! It helps you focus, overcome obstacles, accomplish necessary tasks and get along with the people around you.

A substantial body of research shows that family members who provide care to individuals with chronic or disabling conditions are themselves at risk. Emotional, mental, and physical health problems arise from complex caregiving situations and the strains of caring for frail or disabled relatives along with managing our daily lives.

How Stress Hurts

When as a family caregiver you feel like you are always on call and your body stays triggered for too long, lots of possible health problems can develop or worsen. Learning how to manage stress can be a small change with a big positive impact on your physical and mental health.

Stress is a normal part of life. You can feel stress in your body when you have too much to do or when you haven’t slept well. You can also feel stress when you worry about things like your job, money, relationships, or a friend or family member who is struggling with illness or difficult circumstances.
Begin to take the steps to manage and minimize your stress because you are deserving of that.

When Change is Hard

Faced with the unknown circumstances in your life, know that you are not alone on this journey and that there are support systems to help guide you through. Receiving a diagnosis or watching a loved one experience a decline or setback often triggers grief for both the loved one and the caregiver.

• Be mindful of your own mental and physical exhaustion. Remember to practice good self-care -physically and mentally. Try to eat nutritious meals, get a good night's sleep, exercise regularly and make time for your own interests and friendships. The better you take care of yourself, the better you can care for your loved one.

Stay Positive!

Recall fond memories from the past, including ways in which your loved one cared for and supported you in the past.  This will increase your ability to be patient and understanding in difficult situations.

Recruit Additional Care Support

Reach out to friends and family for support and educate them about the needs of your senior loved one. Consider sharing with them the specific health issues that your loved one is experiencing. This way, they will be better able to both support you and interact positively with your loved one.

• Hire family members as care support
• Medicaid/MediCal has programs that may provide minimal assistance​​
  • Reach out to your Medicaid/MediCal case worker and inquire about the In-Home Support Services Program or the Assisted Living Waiver Program

Take Care of Yourself

Acknowledge your own feelings, possibly sadness, anger or frustration. These are all valid and justified feelings to have as a family caregiver. Consider joining a caregiver support group or attending individual counseling. Sharing your experience with others and connecting with people who are in the same position can ease the stress that comes with this new reality.

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How Next Step Senior Care Inc. Can Assist

Our Care Management services are geared towards the individual and families needs. We can act as a surrogate family member in many ways such as:

• Equipping families with the necessary preparedness and resources to navigate the senior world
• Preparing the household and creating guidelines for outside support 
• Developing a household emergency/disaster plan
• Caregiver oversight and scheduling
• Appointment accompaniment
• One-on-one exercises geared towards the individual
• Companion support

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​We are here to support you with ways to make their life and yours a little bit sweeter, without adding to the barrage of desserts that are sure to be coming your way over the next 6 weeks.