April 18, 2017

Caregiver Tip: How to Deal with Caregiver Stress

According to the National Institutes of Health, over 40 million adults per year in the U.S. provide unpaid caregiving services to someone with a serious condition.  Almost half of these caregivers provide care to people age 75 or older. While many caregivers find happiness and fulfillment in this role, they are also more likely to suffer from various health conditions themselves, such as heart disease, cancer, depression and anxiety.  This is due in part to caregivers failing to make time for themselves and their own health. When a large part of one’s life is devoted to caring for another, it may become easy to forget or neglect their own doctor appointments, pay attention to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and just take time for themselves in general.

According to Kimberley Robertson, RN and coordinator of our caregiver training program, “Caregivers should make time for themselves as well as the person they are caring for. Although their job as a caregiver may seem like the most important thing at times, it is also important to understand that if you never take a break, you will eventually burn out and possibly be less able to provide the care your loved one needs. Even if you start out with just 10 minutes of alone time a day, you must make time for yourself. This will help to relieve stress and actually help you to provide better care.”

For more tips on taking care of yourself while caring for others, read more from the National Institutes of Health here: https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/issue/dec2015/feature1

The Pine Bluff Schmieding Training Program offers affordable, high quality training in a quick period of time so you can begin your new career as a paid caregiver. Please contact us for more information.

Not in Pine Bluff?  Visit our state page at www.uamscaregiving.org to find a UAMS Schmieding program near you.

Family Caregivers? We also have free programs for you! Contact us!