Aromatherapy stress relief helps both seniors and caregivers Caring for an older adult is a tough job. It’s also difficult to be the person whose body or mind is declining. This chronic stress can decrease the quality of life for both seniors and caregivers. It also increases the chances of developing serious physical and mental health issues. A simple, but effective, non-drug…
Noticing what you’re grateful for reduces stress A quick and simple way to reduce caregiving stress is to keep a brief daily gratitude journal in a calendar format. Gratitude reduces caregiver stress because it reminds you to look for the positives in life, even when things are really tough. That simple act helps you get a different perspective and trains your brain…
These past years, veteran and military caregivers have taken on more responsibilities along with increased isolation, stress, and anxiety. Caregiver support systems are returning, but these hidden heroes are still dealing with the strain brought on by the extra challenges. Amy Goyer from AARP and Kathy Roth-Douquet from Blue Star Families share five free resources that support veteran caregivers in self-care, making…
Don’t let undeserved caregiver guilt add to your stress There are many common misconceptions about what caregivers should do or how they should feel that can cause guilt that isn’t deserved. Unfortunately, these misguided beliefs and unrealistic expectations about caregiving can also hurt you by causing burnout, compassion fatigue, or serious health conditions caused by chronic stress. Caregiver guilt might also influence…
Caregiving with family can bring up conflicts For many caregivers, it can be frustrating and stressful to work with siblings to care for aging parents. Or, to work with family to care for a spouse or other relative. There’s a lot to deal with – past conflicts, clashing personalities, tough decisions, and unequal contributions. In a U.S. News & World Report article,…
Celebrating accomplishments reduces caregiver stress Caring for an older adult can be exhausting, overwhelming, frustrating, lonely, and often thankless. It’s no wonder so many caregivers struggle with stress-related health conditions. That’s why it’s important to find a variety of ways to reduce stress. It’s not realistic to eliminate all the worries and frustrations that come with caregiving. And it’s natural to focus…
Caregivers are too hard on themselves How can you be so stupid? Why didn’t you think that through? How could you not expect this to happen? Would you talk this way to a friend? Or even a stranger? Would you let a friend talk to you this way? Of course not! It’s rude, mean, and completely uncalled for. But how often do…
Feeling guilty is a common emotion among dementia caregivers Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, means you’re doing a tough job that comes with high stress and a variety of thoughts and emotions – both positive and negative. Sometimes those negative thoughts can cause feelings of guilt. Guilt is a complex and powerful emotion that can increase stress, drain energy,…
Many caregivers are used to putting others before themselves and have a tough time saying no to additional requests for their time and energy. FirstLight Home Care shares four tips that help caregivers consider their own needs and well-being before saying yes out of habit. Caregiver burnout is real. Something that contributes to the stress is that many caregivers have a hard…
We all know how challenging and stressful caregiving can be. That’s why it’s helpful to have plenty of self-care options in mind. All Home Care Matters shares 8 practical caregiver self-care tips to help you support your own well-being. Caregiving for loved ones is both a challenging and rewarding experience. As a caregiver, you play a critical role in the lives of…
Subscribe to receive our weekly newsletter!
