Caring For Yourself When You Are In Charge Of Your Parent’s Senior Care

By Author: Robin Hewitt
Total Articles: 739
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As the U.S. population ages, the number of those requiring elder care grows accordingly. According to the Centers for Disease Control there were over 34 million unpaid caregivers in 2008, with over 20 percent of households contributing to caregiver responsibilities. Over 80 percent of these caregivers also hold down a full time job, and many have other family responsibilities as well. If you are the primary caregiver in charge of the elder care of an aging parent, you may not realize that the responsibilities are taking a toll on your own well being.


Because the majority of those charged with senior care are family members, the caregiver often neglects their own well being due to the time dedicated to elder care as well as their other responsibilities to family, work, and home. The result is often a decline in the overall health of the person in charge of elder care; the National Alliance for Caregiving reports that nearly one third of all caregivers report having difficulty balancing work and family responsibilities with elder care, managing their own physical and emotional stress levels, or finding ...
... time for themselves. The long-term effect is an overall decline in the mental and physical health of the caregiver, which can ultimately result in being unable to continue providing senior home care. It is vital that the home care provider take care of themselves emotionally, physically, and mentally.


The first step is to enlist others in providing support with elder care. Family and friends should be recruited to help, whether it be in small or big areas of care. Taking the elderly parent for a ride or shopping trip, providing several meals a week, and taking over other family responsibilities are a few examples of contributions that can be made by others. An outside agency can provide respite care for a few hours, a day, a week, or for extended in home senior care. Joining a support group can help with the isolated feelings that a primary caregiver of the elderly often encounters.


The second step is to take care of and find time for yourself. Often discounted due to feelings of selfishness, in fact the main cause of a caretaker’s decline in health is due to putting their elderly parent before themselves. Initially a noble gesture, in the long term this will result in an overall decline in the caregiver’s health and may result in a corresponding decline in the quality of senior care you are able to provide. The caregiver must take time for personal interests and hobbies, other family members, and friends to achieve a more balanced life. Delegating tasks to others will allow the caregiver personal time, if only for a relaxing bath or daily walk. It’s also important that you pay attention to your own health needs, both physical and mental and take care to get enough exercise and to eat properly.


By delegating part of the elder care to others, finding support in your senior care duties, taking time for your own well being, and paying attention to your health, you will ensure that you will be able to continue to care for your elderly parent for as long as possible.

Robin Hewitt is a freelance writer working with Visiting Angels to help people learn what their options are when faced with the responsibility of senior home care. For more information about home care nurse, visit our site today!