HC Caregiver 2016-digital.pdf

37 / 56

Although many caregivers report a new sense of purpose
and closer ties to their care recipient, it often comes with
a cost. Caregivers can experience an array of physical and
emotional difficulties.
Ways to lessen your load and reclaim control over your life:
• Don’t let yourself reverse roles with a parent for example.
Speak to them as you always have as much as you can. It
is a natural instinct for the caregiver, especially if they are a
parent themselves to speak to parents as care recipients.
Keeping your family roles intact as much as possible will help
to retain dignity for everyone involved.
• Connecting with others through support groups helps lessen
burdensome and depressed feelings among caregivers. Although
most caregivers will say a support group is not their cup of tea,
they later might admit it was helpful being able to talk with others
in a similar situation. It also connected them with community
resources they did not know were available to them. Most
caregivers provide care because they feel it is what they should
do, which can lead to isolation and fatigue. The Howard County
Caregiving page on our website has a list
of caregiver support groups to check-out.
• Exercise is a direct and many times a great remedy for
caregiver stress and depression. Research shows if a
caregiver stays healthy then your care recipient is more likely
to stay healthier as well. A walk, an exercise DVD or a short
class if you have the time goes a long way in maintaining
better physical and mental health.
• Meditating and mindfulness training can help to heal
caregiver stress both mentally and physically. Caregivers
who took yoga, meditation or mindfulness training feel less
depressed, sleep better and feel better equipped to approach
caregiving daily challenges. Howard County has various
classes available through Recreation and Parks, our 50+
Centers, along with other local studios providing meditation,
yoga and exercise classes.
• Don’t forget to say yes to help! Respite comes in many
forms. If someone offers to grocery shop for you, say yes. If
someone else offers to visit, or they offer to make you a meal
and deliver it, say yes! The point is that everything doesn’t
have to be your responsibility. Most caregivers don’t realize
their default response to offers for help often becomes “no,
that’s okay, I’ve got it.” No one will do something for your care
recipient just like you, but it is okay. It may give you a few
moments to do something for yourself, or at the very least a
moment to just relax and breathe.
Caregiver’s Guide to
Good Health
(410) 997-7777
8a,MBE
alley Does
brand & identity
print design
APP DESIGN
web & mobile design
social media
seo & analytics
strategic planning
photograph by michelle canvisser
Good design is obvious.
great design is transparent.” “
– Joe Sparano
37