Blog Post: Right at Home - Senior In Home Care - Great Article on Unpaid Care

====================================================

Caregiver Support

Did you know that more than 44 million Americans are providing unpaid care for an adult with an illness or disability? Sixty-one percent of these caregivers are women.

If you provide care for someone with an illness or disability, you might have found caregiving to be rewarding at times. But it also can take a toll on you. You probably give up some of your free time to care for your loved one, leaving you with little time for yourself. Making time to take care of yourself is important for your own health and ensures that you will be able to care for your loved one. Here are some tips to help you reduce your stress and take better care of yourself:

• Find out about caregiving resources in your community, such as meal delivery, transportation, and day-care centers.
• Ask for and accept help.
• Say "no" to requests that are draining, such as hosting holiday meals.
• Make to-do lists and decide which items you need to take care of first.
• Follow a regular, daily routine.
• Don't feel guilty that you are not a "perfect" caregiver. Just as there is no "perfect parent," there is no such thing as a "perfect caregiver." You're doing the best you can.
• Stay in touch with friends and family. Social activities can help you stay connected and may reduce stress. 
• Join a support group for caregivers in your situation (like caring for a person with spinal cord injury). Many support groups can be found in the community or on the Internet.
• Try to find time to be physically active on most days of the week, eat healthy foods, and get enough sleep.
• See your doctor for routine checkups. Talk to her or him about any symptoms of depression or sickness you may be having.
• Make time each week to do something that you want to do, such as going to a movie.
• Take one day at a time.

Keep in mind, taking better care of yourself will help you feel better and make you a better caregiver for your loved one.

=========================================

If ever you find yourself in need of care for a loved one, please know that Right at Home is here to serve you in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Carefree, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek and surrounding areas.  We provide trained, bonded, background checked quality caregivers for as little as a few hours per day....all the way up to 24/7.

Give us a call at 602-569-7240 if we may be of assistance to you or your family.

Sincerely,

Glen Davis

Owner