7 Tips to Help Caregivers Care for Themselves

Contrary to what many people think, more family members care for their older relatives themselves than put them in nursing homes. An estimated 43.5 million people in the United States provide long-term care for a family member with a chronic illness according to an article in the June 2015 issue of Harvard Health Letter.

Often caregivers find themselves in this important role without much notice and without any training. This responsibility can take a toll on them, and the Harvard article offers good advice on how they can stay healthy, so they can continue to care for their loved ones. To read the entire article you must subscribe to Harvard Health Online ($48/year), pay monthly for access to articles ($4.99/mo.) or you might be able to access it through your local library. In the meantime, I’ve distilled some of the caregiver tips from the article into the seven handy points below.

1. Ask for help. You don’t have to do this alone. There are services that support caregivers, including respite care and training.
2. Delegate. If someone asks you if they can help, say yes.
3. Exercise. It might be hard to find the time to exercise, but if you don’t stay healthy, you can’t care for your loved one. Try to get 150 minutes of exercise per week. This can be broken up into chunks.
4. Stay healthy. Keep doctor’s appointments. Eat well. Get enough sleep.
5. Maintain mental health. If you find yourself unraveling, seek help from a mental-health service or join a support group for caregivers.
6. Relax. Practice meditation. Do yoga or tai chi.
7. Play. Keep up with your hobbies. Take time to read.

So there you have it. Seven ways to take care of yourself while you take care of another from Harvard Health Letter. The article also provides several links to helpful Websites, such as Caring.com and the Caregiver Action Network . You can also order a copy of Caregivers Handbook at www.health.harvard.edu/CG.

Ann Silverthorn writes about a wide variety of topics in numerous genres. She’s currently working on a biography of William E. Dimorier (1871-1951), a nearly forgotten poet and educator, who dedicated his life to the betterment of young people. More information can be found at www.annsilverthorn.com.

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