Caregiving can be extra stressful when siblings aren’t supportive When caring for aging parents, the last thing you need is more stress or resentment because of issues with your siblings. But getting siblings to help with parents can bring up old family arguments, cause sibling rivalries to flare up, and generally add to your burden. We found helpful advice in an article…
Manage caregiver resentment to reduce stress When put into a situation that we didn’t choose, it’s not uncommon to feel negative and resentful. And when you spend so much time and energy caring for your older adult, it’s natural to experience caregiver resentment – no matter how much you love or care about them. For example, you might resent the overall situation,…
Have plenty of caregiver stress relief options at hand When you’re caring for an older adult, caregiver stress is part of the job. To combat feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, and frustration, it helps to have a long list of ways to cope and get relief. You’ll always be able to find something that works for the situation you’re in at the moment.…
Conflicted relationships make caregiving more difficult Some parents may have been neglectful, mean, absent, or abusive. When they need care, it can put you in a difficult situation. If you’re struggling with making decisions about caring for parents who didn’t care for you, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Many adult children have complicated relationships with their aging parents, especially…
Worrying hurts caregiver health and relationships One thing all caregivers do is worry. What if dad doesn’t take his heart medication? What if mom falls and gets seriously injured? What if my spouse has another stroke? These concerns are legitimate and serious, but constant worry is stressful and will wear you down. Too much worry can create anxiety, paralyze problem solving, and cause…
Reduce caregiver stress with helpful tech tools It goes without saying that caring for an older adult is an incredibly stressful job. But you do have the power to reduce and manage your stress levels – even if it doesn’t always feel that way. We found an excellent stress reduction tool called Virtual Hope Box. It’s a free smartphone app that’s been…
When family doesn’t believe seniors need help You might be frustrated by family members who are in denial about your older adult’s declining health and increasing care needs. Whether it’s about Alzheimer’s, dementia, fall risk, stroke recovery, or another health condition, their denial can make you feel angry, stressed, and frustrated. We explain why someone might be in denial and share 3…
Gratitude is a quick and easy way to reduce caregiver stress A quick, easy, and effective way to reduce caregiver stress is to practice gratitude. Gratitude is about noticing that there are some good things in your life, no matter how difficult things get. Calling attention to the positive things helps you shift perspective and see that things are not always completely…
The holidays often bring added stress along with the joy of the season. To help caregivers cope, FirstLight Home Care shares 7 ways to reduce and manage holiday stress while still caring for an older adult. The holiday season is upon us and this time of year often brings with it the joy of holiday decorating, the giving and receiving of gifts,…
Caregiver stress is unavoidable, but can be managed Stress is an unavoidable part of being a caregiver. But for long term health and well-being, it’s important to find ways to take care of ourselves and manage stress. In addition, when we’re feeling better, we can be even better caregivers. To help with that, put together a list of 14 practical stress relief…
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