Ten Tips For Caregivers

Ten Ways You Can Avoid Caregiver Burnout and Make Caring for Your Loved One Easier and More Enjoyable for You

1. Take Care of Yourself First.

If you want to give good care, you have to take care of yourself first. Caregivers tend to deny their own needs. The best way to prevent the depression, frustration and resentment that cause caregiver burnout is to hold back some time out of every day for yourself. Don’t wait until all of your chores and caregiving tasks are done before doing things for yourself. You will run out of time. Instead, decide on the minimum amount of time you need each day to meet your basic personal needs. Carve that time out of your schedule. Then figure out how the chores and caregiving will get done.

2. Don’t try to do it alone.

You may think you are the only available source of help, but remember, the more support you have the more successful you’re going to be. Let your family members know you expect them to help out as much as they can. Contact VNA Health Care to find out about home health services appropriate for your situation. You may also want to consider adult day centers or a “weekend getaway” for your loved one at a nearby extended care facility.

3. Get regular exercise.

Exercise can be a good energizer for both physical and emotional health. Even just a few minutes several times a day will provide positive results.

4. Maintain a healthy diet.

When you are busy giving care, it may seem easier to eat fast food than to prepare healthy, low-fat meals. However, healthy meals can be easy to prepare, and a good diet will give you more energy to carry you through the day.

5. Make time for an activity you enjoy.

Make sure you make the time for things you like to do, even if you can only do them for a few minutes each day. If you like to participate in church activities or take classes, ask a friend, family member, VNA Health Care volunteer or staff member to stay with your loved one for an hour or two once or twice a week so you can do those things.

6. Recognize and deal with stress and depression.

Your need for relaxation increases while you are spending time as a caregiver. Learn to identify signs that you are feeling stressed and take steps to relieve those feelings. Depression is also common among caregivers. It is important for you and your loved one that you maintain a positive self-image. Ask for extra support from family and friends if you notice early signs of depression. If it doesn’t improve, get professional help.

7. Get rid of guilt.

You can't be everything to everyone all of the time. Acknowledge your limitations and focus on what is most important. Tell yourself that you are doing a good job at a very difficult task and ask for help when you need it. Feeling guilty is often a sign that you need a break from your caregiving schedule. Ask your friends and family to pitch in.

8. Don’t help too much.

Providing too much care is one of the biggest mistakes caregivers make. While they may not always admit it, people like to help themselves. Every time you do something that your loved one could have done without help, you’ve wasted energy that could be better spent and your loved one missed an opportunity to feel competent. While your expectations should be realistic, the more you expect, the more your loved one will do. Your job is to make it as easy as possible and remember that mistakes are going to happen and that’s okay.

9. Acknowledge your limitations.

In the beginning you may try to do more than is humanly possible. By focusing on what is most important for your loved one and ignoring the nagging little things that need to get done, you will have more emotional and physical energy to devote to your loved one’s pressing needs. Delegate chores and tasks whenever possible or get assistance from local agencies. VNA Health Care can provide many domestic services in addition to professional nursing care. There are also Friendly Visitor volunteers available through VNA Health Care.

10. Give yourself the credit you deserve.

You should take pride in your efforts as a caregiver. It’s not easy to be responsible for another’s well-being and comfort, and those who do it well are very special people. Reward yourself when you need a lift. Go out to dinner. Get a massage — anything that makes you feel good. You deserve it.

Ten Tips for Improving Your Loved One’s Comfort

When our bodies are recovering from illness, surgery or injury, they require a lot of energy as well as a positive mental attitude to achieve the best results. And as our bodies age and change, there are things we may need to adjust to remain healthy and safe. Below are ten tips to help your loved one stay healthier and feel better longer. Discuss them together and help make sure the home environment is as safe and comfortable as possible.

1. Make a plan and get the help you need.

The more support you have the more comfortable you’re all going to be. Let your family members know you need them to help out as much as they can. Contact VNA Health Care to find out about home health services appropriate for your loved one’s situation. You may also want to consider adult day centers or “weekend getaways” at a nearby extended care facility. Many of them have weekend programs that include nice meals and activities.

2. Be prepared.

You should make sure your loved one has everything they need close at hand so they can function as well as possible. Organize your medical supplies and medications with clear instructions if your loved one will be alone.

3. Stay positive.

Our physical well-being is greatly affected by our state-of-mind. Watch for signs of depression and keep communication lines open. Talking to your, friends and other family members can help, but if depression does not improve, get professional help.

4. Exercise as much as the condition allows.

Exercise helps our bones, particularly our joint bones and the bones of the spinal column, rebuild and repair themselves as they should. Strong muscles help protect joints and the spinal column, improve posture and balance, increase mobility, and reduce the likelihood of falls and other accidents.

5. Make the necessary safety modifications in the home.

By making some minor adjustments at home, your loved one may be able to move about more freely and comfortably. Consider the following: grab bars in the bathroom, shower seats, non-skid strips in the tub or shower, levers to replace faucet handles, ramps at your home’s entry, insulation for better temperature control and handrails in hallways.

6. Safe-guard against falling.

Older people and people recovering from illness or injury are at a greater risk for injuries caused by falling. Share these guidelines with your loved one:

• When you first wake up, sit on the edge of the bed and make sure you are not dizzy before you get out of bed.
• Eat breakfast every morning. Skipping a meal could make you dizzy.
• Be careful around pets - they can get in front of your feet or jump on you.
• Use a cane or walker if you are unsteady. Promptly replace worn rubber tips of these devices.
• Never grab a towel rack, shampoo holder or soap tray for support in the shower. These will not hold a person's weight.
• Let the soap suds go down the drain before you move around in the shower.
• Do not turn suddenly.
• If you are prone to falling, use a shower chair and a handheld shower attachment.
• Clean up puddles of water immediately.
• Don’t lock the bathroom door. That will delay help in reaching you.
• When on a stairway, never carry any package that will obstruct your view of the next step.
• Keep at least one hand on the handrail when climbing or descending a stairway.
• Concentrate on what you are doing; don't be distracted by sounds.
• Arrange clothes in your closet so they are easy to reach.

7. Maintain a healthy diet.

Good nutrition is vital for recovery and sustaining energy. Encourage your loved one to stick to any diet restrictions the physician, nurses or dietitians recommend. If your loved one is free to eat what he or she likes, encourage a healthy balance of food intake with physical activity and discourage skipping meals. Eating a variety of foods will make meal time more enjoyable. Help select a good mix of grain products, vegetables and fruits and try to limit saturated fats and sugars. Make it as easy as possible for your loved one to consume at least five servings of fruit and vegetables per day.

8. Pay attention to hand washing.

You can prevent colds and infections by washing your hands often and thoroughly. Contagious viruses are usually transmitted from person to person through hand-to-hand contact. Hand washing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection.

9. Have a plan for emergencies.

Make sure your loved one has a way to contact you or another family member or other caregiver in case of an emergency. Make the phone as accessible and convenient as possible. Decide who is the best person to contact and pre-program the phone for instant dialing to that number. Chose a speed dial number that’s easy to remember or secure a piece of paper with that number to all of the phones. Consider getting an emergency response system that links your loved one instantly to professionals who can assist over the phone or send help to the home. LifeLine is available through VNA Health Care (contact LifeLine)

10. Stay connected and have some fun.

Encourage your loved one to continue as many of the activities he or she enjoys as possible. Don’t be afraid to ask other friends or family members to participate in selecting books, renting movies or just taking your loved one out for an outing. Feel free to suggest activities your loved one can enjoy with companions and help schedule time for them. If you your loved one can’t get out, invite someone over to play cards or watch a movie or talk over tea and cookies. Encourage your loved one to take the initiative to reach out to others.