Caregiver Self-Care: Staying Healthy While Caring for Others

When someone needs or receives extra help at home, the focus is usually on that person and meeting their needs. What is often forgotten about are the needs of the person providing them with help–the caregiver.

Our extensive experience in the senior home care industry has shown us that caregivers, while selfless by nature, often struggle with practicing self-care. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, given that so much of their time is spent taking care of others. But even if it’s understandable, it’s a lifestyle that comes with a cost.

The Cost of Overlooking Self-Care

Ignoring their own health can lead caregivers to experience mental stress and physical conditions like sleep problems, body aches, weight changes, and more. Some of this might be due to not making time for regular doctor visits. It could also occur from the high level of stress and physical strain that caregiving comes with. If caregivers leave their own care unchecked, they can experience caregiver burnout, a serious condition that we wrote about in a past blog.

What Can Caregivers Do To Cultivate a Lifestyle of Self Care?

Most caregivers, family and professional alike, are already very familiar with the idea of self-care techniques like eating balanced meals, getting adequate rest, and exercising. Where the challenge usually comes from is applying these techniques in their already busy lives. It’s one thing to know what you should do; it’s another to make the time to do it.

The creative ideas below are a proactive way to initiate small, but positive shifts in your daily responsibilities. By associating these techniques with your caregiving duties, you can build healthy habits that support your own self-care while ensuring your clients or loved ones continue receiving quality assistance.

Micro-Self Care

Waiting for breaks to get some self-care can be difficult when caregiving. Instead, work it into things you do every day. For example:

Every time you wash your hands, take three deep breaths
Before standing up, stretch your body for 30 seconds.
While doing chores, listen to one of your favorite songs.

Parallel Play for Adults

Parallel play is a term used in child development and refers to when children play in the same space, but not with each other, or with little to no interaction together. Caregivers can practice this technique during their responsibilities. A few options to do this are coloring or knitting while the person under your care watches TV, enjoying a meal together by adding your own favorite sauce or seasoning to it, or listening to a guided meditation while they nap.

Make Mindfulness a Part of Care Tasks

Care tasks take up the majority of a caregiver’s time, so they’re excellent opportunities for practicing being mindful and in the moment, rather than daydreaming or zoning out. Try something like the following:

When brushing a client or loved one’s hair, take your time and focus on your breath and movements. Be present and appreciative of the tenderness and comfort you bring to others and let that peace fill you as you breathe in and out calmly and with awareness.
Create sensory experiences for yourself like paying attention to the feel of the water and the colors of the soap bubbles while washing dishes.

Mentally Escape Together

This is a fun technique that you and your care recipient can try together. Keep a travel book at their house, and when you both have downtime, pull it out and read some out loud while looking at the pictures. You can also visit places all over the world together virtually online through websites like Smithsonian Journeys.

Keep Scent Therapy Close at Hand

Aromatherapy has several benefits and is useful when you need an instant pick-me-up or call-me-down. Keep a few roll-on aromatherapy oils in your pocket or bag for when you need some relief during the day.

Make a “Joy Stash”

For those moments when the stress of your workload is heavy, having a joy stash on hand can help. This is a small collection of personal things that instantly uplift you. This can be anything of meaning, but some ideas are a saved playlist of your favorite mood-boosting songs, a collection of affirmations you store on your phone for easy access, or a box of your favorite teas, snacks, or other comfort items.

Book Time for Yourself

Don’t assume you’ll just make time for yourself. Literally, add it to your calendar. The time depends on your schedule, but you might want to aim for early morning or late evening, either before or after your day begins/ends. This gives you a better chance at giving your time the attention it deserves. How you spend your me time is up to you, but a few recommendations are a bath, reading, or getting attention from the pros like at a spa, salon, gym, or chiropractor.

A few local places you might enjoy in Lewisburg are The Onyx Med Spa and ONE Health & Wellness Spa.

Visiting Angels Prioritizes Self-Care for Clients & Caregivers

Sometimes, family caregivers need support caring for their loved ones. Visiting Angels of Lewisburg, PA, is proud to serve seniors and their families throughout the surrounding areas. Our personalized in-home caregiving solutions can alleviate the responsibilities of family caregivers and open up more free time for themselves.

Additionally, we promote a supportive environment for our caregivers, ensuring that they’re at their best so that the care they deliver is too.

« Articles & Advice

Visiting Angels LEWISBURG, PA