Edina, Minnesota
5780-5798 Lincoln Drive Suite 143, Edina, MN 55436
(763) 273-4207
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4 Stress-Reducing Tips for Family Caregivers

Comfort Keepers In-Home Care in Edina, Minnesota.

4 Stress-Reducing Tips for Family Caregivers

Taking on the role of family caregiving can be stressful, especially if you do not maintain your own physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Taking on the role of family caregiving can be stressful, especially if you do not maintain your own physical, mental, and emotional well-being. If you are a family caregiver, here are 4 stress-reducing tips that may help you provide higher quality care for both yourself and your loved one.

Being a caregiver to a spouse, partner, family member, friend, or other senior loved one can be a daunting task. Trying to balance the care of a loved one and maintain your own responsibilities and health can be a challenge and lead to high levels of stress. If you find yourself trying to provide quality care for a senior loved one, but, are having a hard time balancing providing care and your own personal needs, know you are not alone. In fact, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance, 1 in 6 Americans, who work full-time, provide care for a senior family member, relative, or friend. 

Over the years, many resources have been made available for family caregivers, just like you, trying to care for themselves and a senior loved one simultaneously. Dealing with stress is the first step you should take to providing quality care. Here are 5 stress-reducing tips to consider. 

Explore Respite Care

Respite care can provide you with short-term relief on an ongoing basis. Utilizing an in-home care provider, like us at Comfort Keepers, to provide respite care services is an excellent way for you to fulfill personal obligations, get things done around the house, be involved in family activities, take a vacation, or have the time to relax. At Comfort Keepers, we find that many family caregivers, just like you, enjoy having a partner to provide high-quality care while they focus on other important aspects of their life, outside of caregiving duties. Respite care can significantly reduce the stress associated with family caregiving. Always remember, it is OK to ask for help. 

Interested in learning more about Comfort Keepers respite care in Edina or the surrounding MN area? Call us today; (763) 273-4207 to schedule a free, no-obligation, in-home assessment. 

Make Your Own Health a Top Priority

Make your own health a priority. It is important that you take care of yourself first, no matter how hard it is. Make sure that you eat as healthily as possible, get enough sleep, and make time for physical exercise. Even a short walk will boost your health, mood, and immune system. When focusing on health, it is also equally important to consider your mental health and take steps to protect it. It is crucial to find ways to decompress daily, or the stress will continue to build up until you are overwhelmed and potentially are unable to provide a high level of necessary care. Take time daily to relax and focus on yourself and your own wellbeing.

Everyday Health has a list of 8 great exercises to help you reduce stress and maintain physical health. Check out the article here.

Network with Other Family Caregivers

Oftentimes the best advice on how to balance obligations, provide effective care, maintain wellbeing, and reduce stress comes from other family caregivers dealing with similar challenges. With so many people in the community providing care for loved ones, there is a good chance that you may already know someone who is also a family caregiver. If you do not personally know someone in the role, there are many resources available online and support groups for family caregivers.

Get Yourself Organized

Staying organized can help you find time to focus on yourself and reduce stress. Organization can also increase efficiency and allow you to provide better care to your loved one. Getting organized could be as easy as setting up to-do lists or creating a daily routine that factors in “me” time. 

Here are some additional family caregiver organization tips on Aging Care. 

Takeaways 

If you want to provide high-quality care, taking care of yourself is a priority. You need to make sure that you get enough sleep every night, along with eating as healthily as possible. You also need to take time to decompress or the stress will just continue to build up.

Don't hesitate to get help if you need it. You don't have to do it alone. If you are having a rough time, you may want to look at the Family and Medical Leave Act. You could be eligible for some time off so you can focus on your caregiving duties (and yourself)!