Caregiver Self Help

https://www.caring.com/articles/caregiver-burnout-quiz TAKE THIS SHORT QUIZ TO CHECK OUT YOUR BURN OUT SCORE

Thankyou

thank you for the excellent advice, and for writing such a clear useful article. in fact i am not in charge of others right now, only myself, but I am dealing with several medical treatments and your suggestons will certainly help me not to feel totally enslaved and that I still have a life out of the reach of doctors, hospital etc. I am 80 and happy.

As a caregiver, it can be easy to neglect ones self, we are programmed to give, it feels odd to be on the receiving end, sometimes it is awkward. however, it is very important to, take care of yourself first, or you can get caught up in a very demanding world and before you know it, you are burnt out. personally i take 30 minutes a day, for exercise, and i stay up after everyone has gone to bed for my "me time"

The caregiver support i have allows me to continue my job. My job is one that helps people. I liked this work better before i help someone all the time now.I think i would like my me time to be about a hobbie business..to use my mind (which im afraid to loose daily). I have worked exercise back in because mom likes to watch me. To relatives that dont help a caregiver i get it. But dont send gifts purely for care of parent with no thought if your sibling. And be careful of your own achievment talk. The glory if your savings, children, exercise or vacations may depress someone who cannot do any of these. Short uplifting chats, gift cards, and live yous mean alot.

#7

I believe it is most important to have quite time early in the morning to : * PRAY for peace of mind & heart to be the very best for yourself and the one that you are caring for: finding Hope, Love and Joy in all that you do throughout the day- remaining thankful.

It takes longer than I think I have, but just being on this site, chatting with the stage group *is* "me" time.

Did not tell how to get paid as a family caregiver.

My dad is 89 and has come to live with me and my 18 year old son, he wants someone home 24/7 , my mom passes away 5 years ago and just thinks life revolves around him. i work 2 jobs, and have 2 older siblings that leave it all to me. what can i do ?

I found this article very helpful. It was a great reminder that even if the provision of caregiving becomes overwhelming, which it can at times, making time for oneself goes such a long way to help the caregiver keep the balance, caring, and continued positive interaction and support in everyone's life - for the patient or family member, for the family, and for the caregiver. Thanks, "Caring.Com". I always come away with such good tips and feeling of support when I visit your website. I also liked the helpful examples of how to say "No" graciously, when requests for our time or services deplete our schedules of time we need for our lives or the lives of our loved ones.

Doing the work we do is a great job is rewarding.But on the other hand we do loose ourselfs we we forget me time . Thanks this makes us wake up and smell the coffee.

I will be printing this and wearing it out!! "Finding ME time"... I got a 23 on the burnout quiz. I have already started the psych therapy... It has helped a great deal! I am the primary caregiver and my husband is second inline as primary care for our daughter. We have been caregiving for almost 6 years tag teaming at most times. He travels though and then I am on my own. What I like about this article is that I have become so zombie brain that I have found it so difficult to organize my days and the idea of putting any more into an already crammed day is just exhausting!! This will help me to try harder to organize and prioritize me... So I can continue to be there for my daughter! Thank you!! God bless

I am not the main caregiver for my mother, but I love and admire all who have chosen to accept this awesome responsibility. God Bless!

My older sister has shoulder the brunt of caring for my Alziemers affected mother. She has done an excellent job, she and my other sister too. I don't know how to ever repay them. Truly, they have exhibited 'Saint-like' patience, made "genious-like" decisions and I trust them both completely. Although I am the youngest, my health is bad, and am possibly entering into early Alziemers myself. I want to say , "Thank you, Mina and Susie" I love you both beyond measure.

Looking into a local church group or the Scouts and youth groups that may require Students to earn sevice house by helping those in need..... And a wonderful idea of asking for the "Gift of Time" for birthdays, holidays these thoughts did not enter my thinking at all.... and the idea to have my own "Man Cave" is great..... Thank you

Thanks! to all of you, I agree with just about everyone. We must remember to say "No" ( not "sure I can" or " sure I will") and take of ourselves first. The more we allow others to drain us the more it will happen.

I liked the tips. I wish I could say no, when my husband asks me for help undressing him at night. I know he can do it him self, but now he has to elevate his leg and he thinks he can't do it, so he asks in a pitiful voice, "will you help me". In the morn he is so unbalanced I almost have to help him dress, because I am there putting a dressing on his sore leg. I don't get a very good start on my day, first a back ache and then no shower. I have to find a new way. The tips were great if the circumstanstances were different. I do have respite time out 3 hours a week and I love it. I plan what I am going to do all week. My husband can still go out of the house and we do a lot, but sometimes it's draining. Oh well, look on the bright side and smile, smile, smile,

Great ideas, easy to understand, too!

Hi gageandjw, Thank you very much for your comment. Here are a few links to articles we have on the subject of being paid to be a caregiver: ( http://www.caring.com/questions/how-to-become-a-paid-caregiver ), ( http://www.caring.com/questions/medicaid-caregiver-pay ), ( http://www.caring.com/questions/how-to-get-paid-to-be-a-caregiver-for-parents ). I hope those help! Take care -- Emily | Community Manager

Could you please help me out? I am a caregiver for my husband for 8 years. I have no Job, but they would like me to paid for a caregiver to help me out..... Can I get PAID for doing all the work.........

I appreciated the comments about "penciling in" the breaks and making it feel like an "indulgence". It seems that we sometimes need someone -- an expert or parental type -- to give us "permission" to do something. Now, I have that and can follow her injunctions!

this article helped me a lot I have realized I have been way too much helpfull toward mother and I need to say no more my husband has told me that before. I need to read more about this. Thanks for all the help

Good ideas in the article, and also in the comments, especially the oxygen masks first and the marathoner needing refreshments along the way. I can relate to those and will try to remember - no, I WILL remember - to give myself some "me" time in order to be a good caregiver. I can't take care of my sweet hubby if I don't take care of myself, because if I don't refill the well from time to time, it will run dry and there will be nothing to give to anyone else. Thanks to all.

It gives concrete ways to "find time" for oneself and gives permission to take it.

You had me with the first tip...Schedule it...ideally, first! Paula's right. As the day unfolds everyone else's priorities move up to the top and ours moves lower and lower until they're pushed under the carpet. If possible we need to carve out 15 minutes for ourselves each day...early enough...because WE MATTER. I'm going to take this advice and do something for myself...for an HOUR!

The many suggestions on how and what to do to relieve stress and feelings of being overwhelmed in an unchangeable situation.

Thanks for the helpful article. There are so many times I feel I'm about to implode. Especially helpful was #4 reminding us to have the senior relatives do the things they're able to do and not do all for them. Especially helpful with a mil who is appears needier than she truly is and sometimes is so hard to determine if help is needed or just encouragement to do on her own.

Thank you so much for being there. The information and sense of connection you provide is very helpful and encouraging. M

yes it was, as i was on over load, i got more sick, no family, so im it; i get books delivered to the house so i can excaape in the books, have hired help, join the ymca go twice a week for short time, best thing i did for myself. i feel new, alive''' taken me back to being human, amen'' i will be a widow soon, i cant help that, so much pain for so long, poor guy'' hang in there

Dear Mom, You are in my Heart Forever!!! Your Loving Daughter, Judith Smith Donato RMA 9/21/2010

very helpful in an easy to read format

The entire article was helpful. Great tips

The article on "Finding me time" came right on time.This experience is like a marathon. We need refreshments along the way to keep going.

We all must remember to take care of ourselves first, much like putting on our own oxygen masks first on the plane! We are no good to anyone when we have depleted our energy and resources, inluding ourselves!