With all the ongoing news about COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities, it’s a challenging time for caregivers. There are complex decisions to make about how and where to care for loved ones. Being a family caregiver can be a rewarding experience. But it’s a good time to remember that taking care of yourself matters, too.
About 1 in 4 Canadians provide caregiving support for a senior in their life, according to Statistics Canada. And three quarters of family caregivers are employed while providing this care.
They need the time to fill their own tank, too, says Jane Vock, Caregiver Program Manager at SE Health. “Self-care is important, because then you’re able to bring your best self to your caregiving relationship and to the rest of your relationships,” Vock says.
As more supports and resources for caregivers become available, we can confidently tell you one thing: there is help. Take advantage of it to make sure you’re healthy and balanced for yourself and your loved one. To get you started, here are five self-care tips from Vock:
Remember to monitor your own health and well-being. This may sound obvious, but it’s important. “Caregivers can be so focused on caring for others that they neglect their own health and well-being,” Vock says. Running through a few questions can help you identify symptoms of burnout:
Saying yes to these questions could mean it’s time to seek mental health support.
As our population ages, the caregiver numbers will increase, Vock says. We need to take care of the caregivers who take care of so many others. Check out this caregiver guide—it’s a collection of credible resources, tips, suggestions and tools that you can use on your own caregiver journey. For example, you can learn about how to find specialty care practitioners for your loved one. You can also watch helpful videos on caring for seniors. It’s a great resource to bookmark and reference for your caregiving needs. This guide, paired with daily self-care, can help you stay on top of it all.
For more information and support, visit LuminoHealth.ca. Here, you can search for health-care providers, access resources, and more.