Family Caregivers Need to Take Care of Themselves First
Self-Love Month falls at the same time people are making their New Year’s resolutions. The idea is to take this time when you’re looking at improving something about yourself, and use it to improve how you take care of yourself. Self-care is important for your mental, emotional, and physical health, so you cannot push it aside.
Do you love what you do, feel, and think? When you’re caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s, it’s easy to become so focused on those care needs that you ignore what you need. It’s time to change that, and Alzheimer’s home care aides allow this to happen.
When Did You Last Take a Break?
Has it been weeks since you had a day off? Months, years? If you haven’t had a day to yourself recently, you need to change that. Part of self-care is to have time to focus on your needs and no one else’s. Go shopping with friends, take a vacation, sleep in, or curl up in your PJs for a day and read.
Figure out what most appeals to you, whether it’s a walk on a mountain trail with your dog or time in front of a cozy fire watching movies you’ve been wanting to see. Make sure you start checking off the things on your to-do list.
Declutter Your Home
When you’re busy caring for your mom, you don’t have as much time to take care of your home. Things pile up, and suddenly your home is packed with clutter. That clutter can make you feel anxious, upset, or sad. Take care of it.
Set aside a day to go through your home and clear out the clutter that’s been piling up. If you don’t have room for it, it needs to go. Donate items, give them away to friends and family, or sell them and get some money to set aside for a vacation fund.
Clear Out the Junk Food
While you’re decluttering, take extra time in the kitchen. What junk food is in there that is your biggest temptation and also provides no nutritional benefit? Get rid of it.
Fill your cupboards, fridge, and freezer with healthier items. Frozen and fresh fruits are better than ice cream or cookies. Homemade bone broth is superior to canned or powdered broth or bouillon. Fill your cupboards with whole grains, low-sodium beans and vegetables, and oily fish like sardines and canned albacore.
Nourish your body from the inside, and you’ll start to feel better. That can also make it easier to love yourself.
Talk to an expert in Alzheimer’s home care to get answers to your questions. Learn more about the steps you should take, and address how often you need to take breaks. Schedule Alzheimer’s home care services after you have the information you need on prices and availability.