Self-care is essential to the well-being of family caregivers, yet it is often overlooked.
While it’s natural to focus fully on the older adult who needs support and services, we also need to remind ourselves to pay attention to their support system, be it you, family and/or friends.
Which of these responsibilities are familiar?
- Handling day-to-day care
- Planning for medical needs
- Managing both legal and financial oversight
- Arranging for professional caregiving
- Overseeing long-term care housing needs and supports
- Coordinating social and creative engagement, visits
- Medication management, wound care, monitoring blood sugar
- Addressing nutritional needs, meal coordination
- Home safety and supporting independence
- Balancing dementia progression with a loved one’s autonomy and personhood
Each represents a commitment of time, energy, and love. They can also represent time you take away from your own needs. The health and well-being of each person’s primary support system is important. This is where a self-care plan comes in. When you care for yourself (self-care), you’re better able to care for others.
The responsibility of acting as a primary caregiver for someone who is older or has special needs or disabilities can be demanding—physically, mentally, financially, and emotionally. Navigating complex systems such as health care, social services, and family support can be stressful, round-the-clock, and at times overwhelming.
Statistics on primary caregivers show that roughly 30 percent (some studies show higher) predecease the individuals for whom they are caring. Several factors contribute to this:
- Caregivers don’t find time to make regular doctor and dentist appointments for their own care.
- Illnesses that might be diagnosed in early stages go undetected until much later.
- Stress and its impact on health often goes unnoticed until it’s too late.
Caregiver burnout is real. To learn more, visit Burnout Can Happen to Anyone, an insightful white paper written by my colleague Jullie Gray.
You are a priority too!
I can’t stress enough how important it is to take care of yourself—to create and implement a self-care plan and make respite part of that plan. It is crucial to make yourself a priority. A self-care plan consists of those things you need to take care of yourself, to ensure that your well-being is as much a priority as that of the person for whom you are caring.
For some wonderful ideas on what to include in your self-care plan, I encourage you to read No One is a Bottomless Bucket, an AgeWise article by Diana Moshe, a Spanish program specialist in the Family Caregiver Support Program at CISC.
Learn about respite care
Respite care is what you put in place to cover the care needs of your loved one when you are taking a break—a respite from caregiving responsibilities. Respite care can be provided in many ways:
- In-home care: If your loved one lives in your home or their own, you can bring services and supports to the home with the help of family members, friends, and neighbors. Caregiving support can also be provided by home care agencies or independent professional caregivers. Home care aides can assist with bathing, dressing, medication, and eating, and serve as a companion.
- Adult day centers: Adult day health and other centers and programs offer a variety of social and creative engagement, as well as some light physical activities and nutrition.
- Residential settings: Some assisted living communities offer short-term respite stays. A respite care stay can be up to 30 days, depending on the provider. Care is provided 24-hours a day.
How do you coordinate respite care?
There is no set path for respite care; however, there are several resources and supports that can help you set a course for self-care and respite care:
- Contact Aging Wisdom, 206.456.5155, ext. 400. Our Aging Life Care Professionals™ can guide you to options that work for your family’s situation. Options include home care, adult day centers, other local facilities, family support groups. We can also arrange visits to your loved one while you’re away, monitor a parent who has a home care aide, or be on call in case of an emergency.
- Not in the greater Seattle area? You can find someone just like us — an Aging Life Care Professional™ (formerly known as a geriatric care manager). To learn more, visit the Aging Life Care Association (ALCA) at aginglifecare.org.
- The King County Caregiver Support Network is administered by Aging and Disability Services, the Area Agency on Aging for King County, in partnership with a variety of community-based organizations. Caregiver advocates interview each caregiver to better understand their current situation. With this information, the advocate can make referrals to appropriate services and connect you to the support you need.
- VA Caregiver Support (1-855-260-3274) is available if you or the loved one you care for is a veteran.
“Caregiving is stressful, difficult work,” reflects my colleague Lisa Mayfield, founder of Aging Wisdom. “And with a little research and some thoughtful planning, you can take some time away. You’re investing in your own health. You can confidently leave your loved one in caring hands and get refreshed. Remember—your health is as important as that of the person you are caring for. If you’re not healthy, you can’t be your best for your loved one.”
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- CHECK OUT Aging Wisdom University – online courses to help you build confidence with planning ahead and finding the right support, resources, and solutions for your situation
- US Aging – Find Aging Resources in Your Area
- Tips for Managing Caregiver Stress
- Wellness Wednesdays with UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center with the Alzheimer’s Association Washington State Chapter
