TRIB TOTAL MEDIA SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2019 · 15
MANAGING STRESS
NEED FOR SUPPORT
How to realize when the burden of caregiving becomes too much
At some point in a son or daugh-ter’s
life, the role of caregiver might
shift.
Where parents once took care of
their children, aging parents very
frequently rely on their children to
care for them.
Adult caregivers typically want
to do right by their aging loved
ones but sometimes find that the
demands of medical and emo-tional
support can dominate their
lives — so much so that their own
children and other household
responsibilities are neglected.
The Mayo Clinic says it is natural
to feel sad, alone, frustrated and
even angry when serving as a care-giver
to an elderly parent.
However, it’s also important to
recognize the signs that the burden
has become too much and to look
for ways to lighten the workload.
Anyone can get caregiver stress,
but the National Alliance for
Caregiving says women are more
susceptible than men.
Those who are responsible for
helping someone with Alzheimer’s
disease, dementia or a debilitating
illness are also at a high risk of
developing their own medical
issues.
These responsibilities can affect
the quality of caregivers’ sleep and
impede their ability to relax and
unwind.
Finding relief from caregiver
stress can involve a few different
strategies.
Ask for more help
Don’t hesitate to ask for help. If
other family members or siblings
are unable to pitch in, look into
the possibility of hired aides. These
professionals can be excellent and
trained sources of support who
assist with activities of daily living,
remind patients to take their medi-cations
and assist in coordinating
medical checkups.
Consider watchdog
technology
Smart homes have enabled
remote control of many house-hold
systems, making it possible
to monitor thermostat tempera-ture,
water leaks or floods, appli-ance,
light usage and much more.
Video and sound surveillance can
offer peace of mind to those who
cannot be with their loved ones
constantly.
Explore respite care
Many rehabilitation and nursing
facilities offer short-term respite
care for loved ones so that caregiv-ers
can take the time to go on vaca-tion
or enjoy a day or two without
having to check in on an elderly
parent.
Facilities generally have
24-hour staff to monitor residents,
provide meals and provide enter-tainment.
The change of pace can also
be stimulating to the senior, and
respite care can be a gradual intro-duction
to long-term care.
Embrace community
resources
Seniors might be eligible for
low- or no-cost services, such as
visiting nurses, meal delivery and
adult day programs.
This network of support can fur-ther
alleviate caregiver stress.
Talk it out
Work with a licensed therapist
to find other coping strategies
for dealing with the mounting
pressure of being a caregiver.
Talk therapy and relaxation
techniques can help curb stress.
Being a caregiver is a rewarding
but demanding responsibility to
take on.
Utilizing all possible resources
can make the job easier.
METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION
METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION
Using a network of community support can help caregivers manage stress.
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