American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [149]
• Be sure to keep all of your own medical and dental appointments. It is important that you stay as healthy as possible. Arrange to have a dependable family member, friend, or neighbor stay with your loved one while you visit your doctor or dentist.
• Maintain a healthy diet so you have enough energy to get through all of the day’s activities. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and be sure you are getting a sufficient amount of calcium every day. Consider taking a daily multivitamin/ mineral supplement.
• Try to exercise every day. Choose a type of exercise you enjoy. For example, 30 minutes of brisk walking each day will tone your muscles and stimulate your circulation. It also will get you out of the house.
• Do not neglect your personal life. Regularly take time away from caregiving to enjoy yourself and take care of personal business. Continue to participate in the activities you have always enjoyed. Having fun is a good way to relieve stress and take your mind off of caregiving.
• Take advantage of respite care when you need a break. A responsible family member or friend may be able to take over your caregiving responsibilities for several hours each week. Adult day care programs are often available at senior citizen centers and community service organizations, either free or for a modest fee. Some hospitals and nursing facilities provide respite care services for longer periods (from several days to several weeks) for a fee. Your doctor can recommend appropriate respite care services in your area.
• Keep a diary throughout the caregiving process. Writing things down at the end of the day can help you organize your thoughts, express your feelings, and find solutions to problems.
• Try to stay in touch with your feelings and find positive ways to deal with them. It is common for caregivers to experience feelings of guilt, anger, resentment, or depression. When these feelings are not addressed, they can interfere with the caregiving process and have adverse effects on your health. Discussing your feelings with family, friends, and other members of the caregiving team may be helpful. Joining a support group for caregivers can reduce your sense of isolation, help you find ways to cope with your feelings, and solve caregiving-related problems. Watch for symptoms of depression (see page 187); if you are depressed, get professional help as soon as possible.
Asking for and Accepting Help From Others
Share your caregiving responsibilities with others whenever possible to ensure the health and well-being of the person being cared for, and your own health and well-being. Get in the habit of asking for help as soon as you need it. Do not wait until a situation becomes unmanageable. Every member of the household should participate or contribute in some way—doing chores, running errands, preparing meals, making telephone calls, or providing company.
Be ready to ask for help by keeping a list handy of all the things that need to be done. For example, ask friends or family to come over and stay with the person so you can go out. To get time on your own at home, ask them to go shopping for you or to accompany the person to the doctor’s office. And do not hesitate to accept help when it’s offered.
If you cannot rely on friends, neighbors, or family members, ask your doctor for a referral to a visiting nurse association, which can send a nurse to evaluate the situation and provide some needed help. Consider hiring a household helper, home health aide, or companion to help you with day-today tasks. If family members cannot give their time, perhaps they can offer financial support for help you need. Some hospitals and nursing homes have respite facilities where you can bring your loved one for a short period while you go away on a trip, make up the needed sleep you might have lost, or just stay home and enjoy the solitude. Inquire about the governmental services the person may be entitled to that could help you with required tasks—meal delivery service, homemaker service, respite care, shopping service, case management,