How to Get a Handle on Caregiver Stress Before it Takes Over Completely

By Jamie Shapiro | July 21, 2016 | Comments Off on How to Get a Handle on Caregiver Stress Before it Takes Over Completely

Home Care in Wilmette IL

When you’re a family caregiver, the fact is that you’re likely to experience some degree of caregiver stress. Learning how to handle it makes a huge difference.

Find Respite Help as Quickly as Possible

As soon as you realize that you’re dealing with caregiver stress, figure out how to get respite care for you and your elderly loved one. You might be able to call in other family members or you might need to hire home care providers. You might even need a mixture of the two in order to cover your loved one’s needs completely. Regardless, you need some assistance so that you can take the time away that you need to take.

Get Organized about What You Need

When you have respite care in place, it’s time to take a long, hard look at what you really need in order to reduce your stress levels. You may need ongoing respite care help, which is perfectly normal. You may also need to look at your eating habits, your exercise habits, and whatever else you can change that would enable you to deal with your stress. Start making a list of what you think would be of help to you.

Talk to a Doctor or a Therapist

If you’re experiencing more physical symptoms of stress, it’s a really good idea to schedule an appointment with your physician so you can figure out exactly what you’re dealing with. He can give you a plan that will help you to deal with any of your physical ailments. Some family caregivers experience stress on a more emotional level. If this is the case for you, you may benefit from talking with a therapist. A mixture of these two plans is also a good approach.

Work Out a Stress Relief Plan

Once you have a fuller understanding of how stress is impacting you, it’s time to make a stress relief plan. If your goals are to start an exercise plan, keep up with respite care, and eat more whole foods, you need to make a plan to do just that.  It’s one thing to say you want to make these changes, but following through often means plotting out the steps to make it happen.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Wilmette, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.

Jamie Shapiro
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