Being a caregiver/caretaker is a challenging role to take and have, especially during a national health pandemic and a natural disaster. Caregiving can be stressful and grueling, depending on the level of care needed. Being preoccupied with another person’s well-being leaves less time for basic self-care activities such as sleep, healthy eating, and exercise. It also decreases the quality of life a person would have if he/she would not have to take care of someone. Feeling like this will be your life moving forward until you find more resources or the person receiving care passes away can be depressive. Here are a few things you can do to start taking care of yourself as a caregiver:
- Reduce your personal stress
- If you have any of the following symptoms, you may be experiencing stress, which may make your life more complicated than it already is, so you need to act now.
- Difficulty relaxing
- Eating more or less than usual
- Having difficulty sleeping
- Feeling overwhelmed, and more
- Identify what is stressing you, select what you can change, and “take action” by being proactive on that change.
- Do at least one activity just for you
- Taking time off to exercise or nap can be the first thing caregivers eliminate from their day but start seeing that activity as an essential part of keeping you healthy. It will also help you find joy during the day and decrease any negative feelings.
- Seek Convenient Medical and Behavioral Health
- In-person medical, psychiatric, or counseling appointments are too cumbersome or take a major effort from both caregiver and patient to attend. Seek virtual appointments from the medical or mental health provider. If virtual care is not possible from that provider, switch to a provider that offers virtual appointments. Remember, virtual appointments are convenient and provide the same care as an in-person office. Virtual care is one click away from giving you a more relaxed day.
- When it comes to mental health services, it is difficult to find counseling and psychiatry seven days a week, but Community Health Network offers same day, mental health visits in several languages from the convenience of your home.
- Find a pharmacy that will ship prescriptions to you. This way, you do not have to deal with waiting times or pick-up times that might not accommodate your work schedule. CHN Pharmacy will ship your medications at no cost to you or your loved ones, takes all insurance plans, including CHIP, Medicare, and Medicaid. And better yet, both your medical and mental health providers can send medications directly to the CHN Pharmacy.
- Seek Curbside or Delivery.
- Shopping for groceries does not have to take an hour or two out of your week. You can conveniently order online and pick the groceries via curbside or have them deliver at your door.
- Major retailers such as Amazon, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and more are also delivering or offering curbside for customer convenience.
- Pet groomers and vet clinics are opting for having mobile services for pet owners.
- There are more and more people that have been or are in the same situation you are. There is comfort in knowing that if they can do it, so can you. Join a support group, Parent Peer Support; it will help you find guidance, specialized training, and support from other parents and caregivers.
- Ask for help from others, including, extended family member, friends, and coworkers. If they can help you by giving you a day-off your caretaker duties, it will allow you to relax and take care of other businesses. If you can work from home, do not be afraid to bring up accommodation to your supervisor.
Remember, being a caregiver is demanding and can become stressful and emotionally draining. Pick solutions that will help take off errands and stressors from your day.
