How to Manage the Stress of Long-distance Caregiving
Companion Care at Home in Auburn
A long-distance caregiver lives more than an hour away from their senior. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, as of 2006, as many as 5 million caregivers were considered long-distance caregivers. That number was expected to double by 2020. Being a caregiver is stressful enough, but add in distance, and the situation can feel even more dire. It’s imperative that you have plans, strategies, and techniques that help you manage your stress, so you can be there for the people you’re caring for regularly.
Stay on Top of What’s Going on with Your Senior
If you’re not already aware of what is going on with your senior’s health, it’s time to make sure you are. Talk with your senior and her doctor if possible. Make sure you understand her health concerns, both now and in the future. That’s going to help you and your senior put in place plans that work for her actual needs.
Put a Plan Together
It’s much easier to plan for your senior’s comfort and safety when you understand her needs. If your elderly family member is determined to age in place, it’s vital to have solutions like home care services on deck and ready to go when she’s ready to accept that level of help. The types of help your elderly family member needs may vary over time.
Add Tools that Help Your Senior Manage
Anything that helps your senior be safer at home is a good idea. That means night lights in dark hallways, handrails wherever possible, and even a shower chair if that makes bathing easier. Talk with your elderly family member about what she’s willing to use. Knowing that she’s got some assistive devices can help you feel more secure.
Consider Companion Care at Home
When you’re mostly relying on what your elderly family member shares with you about what’s happening, you might feel as if you don’t have the full picture. Companion care at home helps you know for sure what your elderly family member is experiencing. You’ll also know that she’s not alone all the time, and that there’s someone spending time with her periodically.
Make Sure You’re Taking Care of Yourself
You also need to make sure that you’re taking care of yourself. That will have the most direct impact on your stress levels when you’re far away from your senior. Try techniques like box breathing and meditation to get your anxiety under better control. Gratitude journaling can also help you focus on the positive aspects of what’s happening with your elderly family member. Check in regularly with your senior, but try not to be obsessive about it.
Stress takes a toll on every area of your life, so it makes sense to reduce its impact as much as possible. That’s especially important when you’re a long-distance caregiver and want to do as much as possible for your elderly family member.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Companion Care at Home in Auburn, CA, talk to the caring staff at Partners in Care today. Serving El Dorado, Nevada, Yuba, Sutter, Sacramento, Placer, Butte, Glenn, Yolo, & Colusa Counties!
Call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! (530) 268-7423
Source:
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