Tips and Helpful Information for Caregivers of Senior Citizens! Caregivers and Depression

(Signs of Depression)

Regular exercise, relaxation (stress management), proper sleep (rest), and proper diet can help to lessen the impact of the stress from caregiving. If you require more support, go get it. Avoid “burnout” or worse.

Please take GOOD care of yourself!

ComForcare can help! Click Here

NO MINIMUM HOURS REQUIRED!

Caregiver Tip # 2: It’s Okay to Ask For Help

Everyone needs help at times. It’s okay to ask for help and to take time for yourself. Try these helpful tips below:

• I can ask people to help out in specific ways like making a meal, visiting the person, or taking the person for a short time.
• I will join a support group to share advice and understanding with other caregivers.
• I will call for help from home health care or adult day care services when I need it.
• I will use national and local resources to find out how to pay for some of this help. Such as: ramp building, home safety devices, transportation, etc.
• I don’t have to do everything myself.

Contact the following for additional help:

National Council on Aging (Benefits Check Up Program)
Phone # 1-202-479-1200

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Phone # 1-800-827-1000

Social Security Disability Income ( Age 65 or younger)
Phone # 1-800-772-1213

ComForcare can help! Click Here

Caregiver Tip No. 1: Take Care of Yourself Taking care of yourself is your most important step as a caregiver. Caregivers are more likely than those who are not caregivers to be at risk for colds and the flu and also chronic illness, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

On the other hand, when caregivers take time to care for themselves, good things usually happen:

They stay healthier. They feel better about themselves. They have more energy and enthusiasm and can keep giving care.

Here are some important things that you need to find time to do-just for yourself:

Get some exercise. You may feel better and sleep better if you exercise. One way is to be active in blocks of 10 minutes or more throughout your day and week. Experts say to aim for at least 2½ hours of moderate activity a week.

Fitness: Choosing activities that are right for you

Eat healthy meals and snacks. When you are busy giving care, it may seem easier to eat fast food than to prepare healthy meals. But healthy meals are easy to prepare, and healthy eating will give you more energy to carry you through each day.

Get enough sleep. If you are not getting enough sleep at night, take a nap during the day. Plan to get at least one full night’s rest each week.

Make time for an activity you enjoy-reading, listening to music, painting or doing crafts, playing an instrument-even if you can only do it for a few minutes a day. If you like to go to church activities or take classes, ask a friend or family member to stay with your loved one for an hour or two one or two times a week so you can do those things.

Get regular medical checkups. This includes dental checkups. Even if you have always been healthy, you need to stay healthy. Know about the signs of depression, and watch for them not only in the person you are caring for but also in yourself. If you have feelings of lingering sadness or hopelessness, talk with your doctor.

Caregiver Stress Test

Answer the questions below to see if you are a caregiver in need of help?

Do you regularly . . .

Feel like you have to do it all yourself, and that you should be doing more?
Yes          No

Withdraw from family, friends and activities that you used to enjoy?
Yes          No

Worry that the person you care for is safe?
Yes          No

Feel anxious about money and healthcare decisions?
Yes          No

Deny the impact of the disease and its effects on your family?
Yes          No

Feel grief or sadness that your relationship with the person isn’t what it used to be?
Yes          No

Get frustrated and angry when the person with dementia continually repeats things and doesn’t seem to listen?
Yes          No

Have health problems that are taking a toll on you mentally and physically?
Yes          No

If you answered YES to any of these questions, ComForcare can help! Click Here