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Many of those caregivers are working full-time jobs and
still caring for children not quite ready to leave home yet.
Women make up the majority of caregivers. Adding caregiving
responsibilities to a person with a full plate makes for a
recipe for burnout. Who helps and cares for the caregiver?
Often, the caregiver doesn’t even think of him, or
herself, as one needing care. The focus has been so far away
from self, that self is forgotten. There needs to be
balance. The focus needs to shift to include care of the
self. If not, person needing care will outlive the
caregiver. The Family Caregiver Alliance reports that the
risk of dying is 63 percent higher for a caregiving spouse
aged 66 to 96, than people of the same age who are not
caregivers.
Why does this happen? Stress and poor lifestyle habits
end up wearing down the immune system and increase risk for
chronic illnesses. Caregivers tend to neglect their own
needs, to make sure their loved one’s needs are met. If you
aren’t around anymore, or can’t make it out of your own sick
bed, who will take over? Anyone who has been on a plane has
heard the flight attendant instruct you to put the oxygen
mask on yourself first before helping another in case of
loss of cabin pressure. You can’t help another if you are
ill, stressed, depressed, or in the intensive care unit with
a stroke or a heart attack.
If you are a caregiver, make a promise to yourself to
take good care of yourself as well. You are not allowed to
feel guilty at all for taking some time to care for
yourself. Taking care of yourself includes:
* Getting more sleep – start with getting at least one more
hour per night than you currently do now.
* Eating a more nutritious diet, that includes less sugar.
* Relaxation techniques, such as mediation, praying, deep
breathing, yoga, reading, and hobbies
* Reaching out for support – ask for help
* Avoiding isolating yourself; talk to people; “hang-out”
with your friends
* Exercise – even for 10-15 minutes per day
* Keeping up with your own preventive health care
* Getting access to resources – reach out to
the Ohio Department of Aging; Area Office on Aging of
Northwestern Ohio at 419-382-0624 or
www.areaofficeonaging.com.
There may also be Meet Up caregiver groups in your area.
* Recognizing that “This too shall pass.”
Contact Dianne Pettis, MS,
FNP-BC at 724-375-7519
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