Caregiving is a tough job! This November, people are recognized for lovingly giving baths, cleaning houses, shopping for, and comforting the millions of elderly and ill people who are friends and loved ones. A caregiver provides personal care to someone who is unable to take care of themselves. The caregiver provides assistance on a regular, often daily, basis. He or she may help the person prepare food, take medicine, bathe, and get dressed.
As a caregiver, it is important to make wellness a priority, stay organized, create a support team, educate yourself, talk about your emotions, set boundaries, and seek counseling if needed.
5 Reasons Why Caregiving is so Tough:
- Where’s the other half?: Over half of family caregivers are women.
- Relationships may suffer: One out of every four caregivers report diminished family relationships because of caregiving a loved one.
- No wonder you’re tired: Most caregivers work outside the home either part- or full-time in addition to their caregiving responsibilities.
- Children do it too: Over a million American young people, aged eight to 18, care for an adult relative on a daily basis.
- It’s hard to do self-care: Nearly 70 percent of caregivers report they don’t see their doctor regularly because of their responsibilities.
For more information on caregiving, check the following websites:
https://nationaltoday.com/national-family-caregivers-month (National Family Caregivers Month)
https://www.caregiving.org (Caregiving)
https://familydoctor.org/information-for-caregivers (Family Doctor)