It’s a fact: caregivers have higher levels of stress than non-caregivers. If you are serving as a caregiver to a loved one, know you are fulfilling a valuable role — and that it’s okay to take care of yourself. K-State Extension can help with that.
In partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, K-State Extension is providing an Empowered Caregivers two-part series. This program is designed to help reduce stress, build a caregiver foundation, support independence, communicate effectively, balance life, improve decision-making, and locate helpful resources.
Free meal and classes will be held on Tuesdays, October 6 and 13, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., in Fort Scott. Register by calling 620-244-3826. Until then, here are some tips.
While we can’t prevent stress, we can help manage it. Too much stress, especially over a long time, can harm your health. You may not get enough sleep or physical activity, or eat a balanced diet, which increases your risk of medical problems.
The following are some ideas to help you manage your caregiver stress:
- Take a break from caregiving. Take a walk or meet up with a friend. Do something not related to caregiving.
- Get support. Attend a support group, have a friend you can call just to let off steam, or look for community resources.
- Relax. Read a book, meditate, pray, garden, knit, take a long bath.
- Take care of your health. Go to the doctor, get routine exams and flu shots, get enough sleep, and eat your fruits and vegetables.
- Change “guilt” to “regret.” Guilt means you did something wrong; regret means that you are in a difficult situation, and sometimes you have to make difficult decisions, but they are not wrong.
- Forgive yourself — often. You cannot be a perfect caregiver all day, every day.
- Ask for and accept help when offered. No one can do this alone. We often don’t know what to say when someone offers help. Prepare for this and create a task list to have ready. When someone asks you if they can help, refer to your list and say “YES.” Let them choose which task on the list they would like to do.
- And finally … laugh. Find ways to keep your sense of humor on a daily basis.
For more information, contact Tara Solomon-Smith, Family and Community Wellness Agent, Southwind Extension District, at tsolomon@ksu.edu or 620-244-3826.
I absolutely love this article. I only wish when I was caregiving for my late wife that I had known all of this information. By the time my wife passed, my health had suffered greatly not only physically but mentally as well. The sad thing is, that after my wife passed, I immediately stepped into the caregiving role for my elderly aunt and uncle. At that time, I didn’t necessarily realize that while the role was a little different than taking care of my wife, it still was very stressful on me. I cared for my aunt and uncle for five years. My uncle ended up passing away and my aunt moved to Kansas City, where her children and grandchildren lived. After this I vowed to myself, that I would never be a caregiver to anyone again. I have not fully regained my health since that time but, I am mentally sound but have not fully regained my health. I am now 70 years old and trying to regain as much of my health as I can but, it’s very difficult.