Taking care of a senior parent can be a lot more difficult than people realize. Physically providing care is difficult, but so is the emotional heavy lifting of taking care of someone that you have relied upon to take care of you throughout your life. And if you have a family and children that also need you the stress can quickly become overwhelming. 24-hour home care could help you through this situation.
There’s even a special term for people who are caring for aging parents on one hand and children on the other: the Sandwich Generation. And the Sandwich Generation members are experiencing extremely high levels of caregiver burnout.
If you’re struggling to keep your head above water caring for senior loved ones and your children here are a few things you can do to cope with caregiver burnout:
There is absolutely no shame in getting 24-hour home care for your senior parents. If your senior loved one needs a lot of care it just makes sense to get 24-hour home care to give you the time you need to take care of your kids and the time you need to take care of your own needs. There is nothing that says you have to do it all without help. You’re allowed to get help, and help is there for you. Getting 24-hour home care providers to take care of your senior parents for even a few days each week can be a huge help in reducing your stress.
Taking some time off occasionally is an absolute essential when you’re a caregiver. Even if it’s just for a few hours to go to a movie where you can sit in the dark with your phone off and just relax, you need a break. Since often it’s a logistical nightmare to try and go away for an actual vacation, try to build short breaks into your daily schedule like going to a movie, going to meet friends for lunch, or turning off your phone for an hour to go read a book at the library where it’s quiet.
It’s time to outsource some of those stressful tasks that need to get done but cause anxiety and panic. You need to prioritize caring for your senior loved ones and your kids which means that some of those tasks need to get taken off of your plate. Try hiring some household help to do the cleaning and shopping, or try home delivery for shopping, prescriptions, and other necessities. Lighten your load wherever you can.
After you have spent all day working, caring your senior parents, and taking care of your kids too probably the last thing you want to do is exercise. But that’s exactly what you should do. Exercise will help you stay physically healthy and it will help lower your stress levels. Going to the gym to use the treadmill or running around the neighborhood after a long day will make you feel a lot better.
Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/caregiver-stress/art-20044784
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