How to Stay Emotionally Healthy When Caring for an Aging Parent
By Home Care Assistance Des Moines 9 am on
Caregivers who maintain good emotional health tend to have an easier time handling stress and daily challenges. Good emotional health can also lead to healthier relationships between caregivers and their senior loved ones. Here are some of the ways to stay emotionally healthy while caring for an aging parent.
Smile and Laugh More Often
Laughing and smiling as often as possible can provide a sense of joy and contentment. As a result, you could have more courage to dissolve tense situations between you and your elderly loved one. Taking the time to smile and laugh during the day could boost your overall mood and reduce the amount of anxiety you experience. Writing yourself positive notes, looking at home videos, reading funny literature, or watching favorite comedy shows are some of the ways you can brighten up your day.Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Des Moines Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
Invest in Self-Care
The connection between your mind and body can impact the way you feel, act, and think. When you’re physically healthy, your emotional health may also increase. Living with physical ailments can lead to negative emotions and cause other health issues, including insomnia, depression, infections, and frequent muscle or stomach pain. Make it a priority to get plenty of rest at night and take breaks during the day. You should also stay physically active and eat a well-balanced diet to protect your emotional health.Family caregivers sometimes need a break from their caregiving responsibilities. When they need respite care, Des Moines families can rely on professional caregivers to help their senior loved ones remain safe at home.
Maintain Social Connections
Involve yourself in activities other than caregiving, including going on trips with friends, enjoying dinner outings with your spouse, and participating in various community events. Find out if there is an art class, dance group, or music course you can join to spend more time with like-minded individuals. Forming connections with people at these outings or within these groups could boost your emotional health and combat caregiver stress.
Avoid Negative Thinking
There may be times you want to give up on being a caregiver. On these days, you will need to find the positive in the situation. Instead of giving up, find a way to make caregiving easier and learn from past mistakes. Many caregivers step into the role with no experience, so it’s normal to make errors from time to time. When you learn from your mistakes, you can make healthier choices going forward. Having a negative reaction to things can cause depression and chronic stress.Hiring a professional caregiver is one of the best ways to reduce your caregiving burden and focus on your own health and wellbeing. Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated senior care, Des Moines, IA, families can turn to Home Care Assistance. Our respite and live-in caregivers are expertly trained to assist seniors with a wide array of important tasks, including cooking, bathing, light housekeeping, and exercise. To create a comprehensive in-home care plan for your senior loved one, give us a call at (515) 264-2438 today.
