Protecting Your Back While Providing Hands-On Care

Are you among the 65.7 million Americans providing care for another family member? Do your caregiving responsibilities require you to be hands-on, whether it’s assisting an aging loved one with a shower, helping them get dressed, assisting them in and out of the car or a chair, or completing household chores for them? How’s your back? 

At Visiting Angels Appleton, we understand the physical toll caregiving can have on a family caregiver’s health and body. When caregivers perform the same motions over and over again without taking precautions, they can really hurt themselves. However, when caregivers learn and use proper body mechanics, they reduce the stress they put on their joints and spine and lower their risk of pain and injury. Here are a few strategies to help family caregivers protect their backs while providing hands-on care. 

Prioritize Strength Training

Family caregivers are often notorious for putting themselves last. However, family caregivers really need to prioritize strength training so that they can continue to provide care. One of the best ways to prevent back pain and injury is to keep those muscles strong and conditioned. Include strength training exercises at least twice a week in your exercise routine. Appleton Parks and Recreation and the YMCA of the Fox Cities offer a variety of group fitness classes that focus on muscle building and strength training.

Practice Proper Lifting 

Many adults have developed poor lifting habits over their lifetime, which only puts them at a greater risk for injury. Another strategy to help family caregivers protect their backs is to practice proper lifting. Whether you’re helping your aging loved one out of a chair or lifting groceries out of the car, think about your body alignment and always bend your knees. Well Within Chiropractor provides further instructions about proper lifting techniques and other ways caregivers can avoid back injuries. 

Know Your Limits 

Another important strategy for family caregivers to implement so that they protect their backs is to recognize their limits. If you don’t have the strength to repeatedly help your aging loved one in and out of the car or on and off the toilet, speak up. There are other useful tools seniors and family caregivers can use to prevent injuries for everyone involved. Install grab bars near the toilet or purchase a transfer bench that allows your loved one to slide over into the shower without needing your assistance. Watters Plumbing, Inc., a reputable local company, can help you remodel your loved one’s bathroom so that they can age in place. Also, remember to take breaks between caregiving tasks and see your doctor if you begin to feel any back pain.

Get Help with Visiting Angels Appleton

Even after you’ve strengthened your back and core muscles and started using proper lifting techniques, as a family caregiver, you may still reach your limit regarding the amount of hands-on care your body can take physically. Fortunately, family caregivers can rely on the help provided by Visiting Angels Appleton. We provide reliable senior care that is customized to the specific needs and requests of your aging loved one. Our compassionate caregivers can assist with caregiving tasks that have become too difficult for you to manage, such as helping with showering, dressing, or transferring. Additionally, they can lighten the load of your other caregiving responsibilities, including running errands, escorting Mom or Dad on a walk, or keeping your aging loved one company and engaging them in conversation while you take time for yourself. Let us be a part of your plan to protect your back so that you can enjoy precious time with your aging loved one without pain. To learn more, please contact us today by calling 920-944-8000.