4 Things to Remember as a Family Caregiver

By Gauthier Family Home Care | October 5, 2016 | Comments Off on 4 Things to Remember as a Family Caregiver

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When you’re running around busy all the time, it’s easy to forget some important lessons. Some of these can help you to be a more well-rounded family caregiver to your elderly loved one.

You’re Going to Feel Some Scary Emotions

Being a family caregiver doesn’t mean that you suddenly don’t feel any emotions. In fact, you’re likely to have some situations in which you feel emotions that scare you or make you feel out of control. You might even feel like you’re on a roller coaster ride. You’ll be angry, depressed, afraid, anxious, and even happy. But you may not always know when you’re going to feel which emotions, so it’s important to give yourself permission to just feel the emotions that you’re feeling now and let them go.

Forgiveness Can Come in Really Handy

Forgiveness doesn’t mean that you forget what happened in the past, especially if you and your loved one have had a rocky time of it in the past, but it can mean that you let that go in favor of being the best caregiver you can be now. You may also need to forgive yourself. You won’t be perfect as a family caregiver, no matter how much you may want to be. So let yourself have the benefit of the doubt and start every day fresh.

The More Information You Have, the Better

Now that you’re caring for your elderly loved one, you’re going to be learning a lot of different bits of information. Everything that you learn can help you to be a more educated family caregiver and give your loved one even better care. This means learning about caregiving in general as well as any health conditions that your loved one has.

You Need to Get Away for a Little While

You can’t keep yourself running all day, every day. You need down time and time away to just be yourself. Talk to other family members or to your loved one’s elderly care providers and set up a time that you can have just to get away. Then make sure that you take that time for yourself.

 

Being a family caregiver doesn’t mean that you’re perfect or that anyone expects you to be.

 

If you or someone you know needs help with caregiver services in Cascade, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.

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