Taking Care of the Caregiver
Individuals who provide care for others with injuries or disabilities have unique challenges. Life can be rearranged for the entire family and friends. Being a caregiver includes accommodating the needs of the person you are caring for as well as meeting your own life needs.
Take care of your mental well-being
Create breaks or rest times for yourself. This might be time away in moments of solitude, especially in the beginning. You may find time to be in another room or close your eyes for five minutes. As time goes by, you will find opportunities to renew your life's enjoyment.
Family members and friends want to help you but may not know what to do. Ask for help, or if someone volunteers, give them a job. Teach your volunteer tasks to help.
Monitor your mood, spirituality, and sleep. Caregiving can be exhausting. You may be up at night to assist with some personal care. Utilize your resources to your advantage.
Follow a healthy diet. It can be easy to fall into a quick bite of non-nutritious or comfort food. Follow a meal plan and stick to it.
Work with the person for whom you are providing care so they can do as much as they can on their own. This builds self-confidence and allows more independence for them.
Talk frankly with the person who is requiring your care. It may be easier for you to do some activities at alternate times. For example, showers may have been provided in the morning at the rehabilitation hospital, but it may be easier for you at home in the evening.
This is a new normal for you as well as for the individual you are providing care. See what must be done and set a schedule for these activities. Remember to put in breaks for yourself. As you adjust to your schedule, you can mold your caregiving activities into a regular routine.
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Monitor your physical challenges
Learn about body mechanics so you will have less injury to your own body, especially over time. Think about how your body is moving. Overreaching and repetitive movements are straining. Strengthen your own body. There are many excellent informational websites, including videos about body mechanics. A quick overview can be found here:
NIH Body Mechanics, click here.
Physiopedia, click here.
Put weight through your thighs and not your back muscles. Thigh muscles are more powerful because they hold up your entire body than those in the back, which support mostly the trunk.
Never let the person you are moving put their arms around your neck. Your neck holds up the weight of your head, which is about ten to twelve pounds. That is not the muscle supply needed to lift the body of an entire person. If the person you are caring for has use of their arms, they should help to lift their weight or if unable use of both or one arm, position the arm/s so they are safe from harm.
Use adaptive moving equipment. Your healthcare professional can help you select appropriate devices within your payor plan.
Pediatric Consideration:
Babies are easy to pick up and move; however, as your child grows, they become heavy, and their center of gravity changes, affecting how you move them. Sometimes parents and caregivers have adapted to a way of moving their child, not thinking about their body changing. Periodically, think about you are moving your child. We often see parents picking up a 12-year-old like they picked up their infant. Reassess frequently for the best outcome for your child and your own body.
Over time, you will learn what is best for you as a caregiver. If you become stressed, seek help from a professional counselor or therapist before your stress boils over. This helps everyone involved.