by Paul Bridgewater, Detroit Area Agency on Aging
When it comes to caregiving, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter said it best: “There are four kinds of people in the world – those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers.”
If you help a person 60 years of age or older, or if you are at least age 60, you are likely to face caregiving issues simply because of our increase longevity and the aging of the baby boomer population.
In 2011, the first of the baby boomers reached what used to be known as retirement age. And for the next 18 years, boomers will be turning 65 at a rate of about 8,000 a day. As this unique cohort grows older, it will likely transform the institutions of aging and caregiving — just as it has done to other aspects of American life.
For more people, the caregiving journey begins simply – the first time they shop or pick up a prescription or provide transportation to a doctor’s appointment for a friend or relative.
The Elder Law and Advocacy Center of Michigan Neighborhood Legal Services presents free legal clinics for caregivers and older adults throughout the year, and it defines a caregiver as someone who:
- Looks out for another person’s well-being
- Looks in on or shops for a neighbor, friend, or relative
- Visits a friend or relative in their home, assisted living or a nursing home
- Provides visits to the doctor or other appointments
- Acts as an advocate or agent under a power of attorney or is a guardian or conservator
- Regularly takes care of their grandchildren
If you can relate to any of these situations, you are a caregiver. Consequently, your major responsibility is to take care of yourself first.
This may appear selfish to some of you reading this, since most caregivers willingly put aside their own needs and wants to spend all of their energy on the person needing care. However, it is exhausting and mentally draining to care for someone else if you are not physically and emotionally healthy.
Those most at risk of burnout are grown children who often refuse assistance of relatives and friends believing only they can provide quality care; couples who have spent 50 years or more together who believe they will always be able to care and provide for one another; and caring neighbors who believe they can be safety net for nearby seniors.
Most of these loving caregivers too often find themselves ill prepared for the progression of an illness or disease, and they put themselves at risk of overwhelming stress.
Here are five SMART TIPS on how you can stay mentally and physically strong as a caregiver:
1. Get enough rest. If you are caring for an Alzheimer’s patient who wanders or paces at night, your own sleep can be disturbed. It helps to find someone to be “on duty” at night while you sleep, or someone who can replace you for a couple of hours in the afternoon while you nap.
2. Eat a balanced diet. We know the importance of including the basic food groups in our diet every day. For all of us, it is important to limit salt intake, eat foods low in saturated fats and cholesterol, include fiber in our diet and maintain our weight.
3. Exercise. A few minutes of simple exercises every hour can add up during the course of a day – an easy way to reduce stress. When you need to get out of the house, perhaps a neighbor could stay with your loved one while you take an exercise break.
4. Stay emotional healthy. Giving yourself personal time will, in the long run, make you a better caregiver. Keep laughter in your life, get outdoors for a change of scenery, and stay committed to your to your hobbies. If you are really overwhelmed, ask for help with specific tasks and responsibilities. For caregivers grounded in spiritual belief, the power of prayer offer a profound sense of comfort.
5. Get Help. Talk to professionals in the aging network that can help find activities and solutions for your senior. If you are a caregiver who needs to identify resources and assistance, contact the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, 313-446-4444 or visit the website: www.daaa1a.org
Tune in to “The Senior Solution” on WCHB 1200 AM every Saturday from 1 to 2pm hosted by Paul Bridgewater, President/CEO of Detroit Area Agency on Aging. DAAA is located at 1333 Brewery Park Blvd., Suite 200, Detroit, MI 40207.
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