November is National Family Caregivers Month, and we’d like to help you celebrate by giving you a few ways you can relax as a caregiver or help out as a friend of a caregiver. Make a commitment to honor caregivers this month by doing something special for yourself or your caregiver friend.

If you are a caregiver…

• Give yourself time to rest and rejuvenate. Remember to take care of yourself as well as your loved one.
• Accept offers of help from others around you. Find practical ways they can take some of the load off your shoulders, whether that’s running errands around town, cooking supper once a month, or watching your loved one for a few hours while you take time for yourself.
• Connect with other caregivers. Sharing stories, laughter, and helpful tips can make your job easier and less stressful.
• Encourage your loved one to embrace as much independence as they are safely able to handle. The more they can do for themselves, the better they will feel and the less they will feel like a burden. Be open to new methods, technologies, and mobility products that encourage independence.
• Be good to your body. Healthy eating, exercise, and adequate rest will go a long ways in keeping you physically and emotionally healthy.
• Give your back a break. Be careful not to lift, push, or pull more weight than you are able. Consider purchasing a lightweight wheelchair or other lightweight mobility products that are easier to lift into a vehicle. Use a wheelchair ramp to avoid lifting altogether.

If you are supporting a caregiver…

• Offer to take over some of the caregiver’s duties, even for a few hours or a few times a month.
• Encourage the caregiver to take time off. Help them find a homecare professional who can lighten the load.
• Cook supper once a month for the caregiver’s family.
• Offer to babysit if the caregiver has kids.
• Help the caregiver research information on their loved one’s medical condition.
• Be willing to listen and lend a hand wherever you see a need. Every caregiver needs someone who cares for them.

Tags: Senior Caregiver, Senior Home Care

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