November is a time to recognize and support family caregivers, build awareness about our situation, and speak up for our rights.
Each November since the mid-nineties, the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) has organized a national celebration and time of awareness in support of family caregivers. This year is no different. The NFC Month theme this year is:
Believe Protect Reach Out
Believe in Yourself. Protect Your Health. Reach Out for Help.
This year we are particularly focusing on the Protect Your Health message. With talk of a flu pandemic being just around the corner, the health of family caregivers becomes more critical that ever before. We of course as a rule don’t always do a good job of taking care of ourselves. We are always putting our loved one’s health and well being first. And after that there isn’t much time or energy left.
But the research is clear. The extreme stress that family caregiving can cause actually has been shown to affect our immune systems making us more prone to illnesses ourselves, more apt to contract a cold or, worse, the flu.
If you are run down, tiring more than usual, will you be able to provide good care? No.
If you have a cold or the flu, will your loved one catch it from you? Quite possibly.
If you become depressed will you be able to make good decisions, will life become unbearable? Definitely not. I know I’ve been there.
If you are not well, who will fill your shoes, whether temporarily or permanently?
If you are like most of us, the answer is “I don’t know.”
Well, this is all fine and good for me to say Protect Your Health, but talk is cheap as they say. How do you go about it? How do you take care of you while caring for another? Whether you are a 24/ 7 caregiver at home, or a working family caregiver, the challenge is the same. How do you find the time and the energy needed for self-care? How do you get started? Here are some ideas:
1. Take a daily vitamin supplement. Being on the go often means we don’t get our five a day fruits and vegetables. Taking a daily multiple vitamin supplement can fill in those gaps
2. Brush and floss your teeth. When you are oh so tired, it is understandable that you just may want to crawl into bed. Consider brushing and flossing your teeth right after dinner, when you aren’t as wiped out.
3. Exercise- even a little. I go on and off my exercise regimen depending upon what is happening in my life. Once off, getting back on is hard. The way I do it is try and find a friend to walk with one or two days a week for 20 minutes to a half an hour. Having the companion makes all the difference.
4. Do something nice for yourself that doesn’t take a lot of time. Try a bubble bath – with tea and chocolate.
5. Get a manicure.
6. Listen to some music.
7. Have lunch or dinner with a friend.
8. Meditate or go to religious services.
9. Get a flu shot - do it now!
10. Have an annual physical.
11. Plan a real respite – a weekend away. Definitely not easy – but oh so wonderful.
