» self-care

If You’re a Caregiver, Try these Techniques to Relieve Stress.

Tom McNulty — Tue, 28 May 2013 15:35:03 +0000

Caring for another person is stressful. Whether you’re the main caregiver or one of several, helping someone who is ill or recovering can exact an emotional toll. In fact, one American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) study found that about one in three caregivers rate their stress level as “high”. Try These Tips The stress you may feel as a caregiver can frustrate and exhaust you. But there are plenty of techniques you can use to manage your stress. Here are our favorites from great resources like the AARP, the Mayo Clinic and others. Eat right. Take care of your [...]

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Power to the Patient

Amy Levine — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:25:46 +0000

As a patient coping with a health event, you have to deal not only with your body changing drastically — sometimes suddenly and sometimes gradually — but also with a significant loss of self. Your independence is often compromised, and family members cluck and fret and frequently talk over you to your doctors. They mean well, but sometimes your caregiving team may be hindering you more than helping. Maintaining Your Sense of Self. Despite the circumstances and stress of being ill, it is vital that as a patient, you maintain your sense of self. You are not helpless. You are [...]

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Timesaving Tips for Today’s Busy Caregiver.

Tom McNulty — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:41:48 +0000

How to Create More Time and Streamline Your Life With Some Timesaving Tips Life has lots of moving parts, and all of them eat up the clock. As jam-packed most of our lives are, that’s a real issue. You have errands to run, shopping to do, meetings to attend, kids to drop off, dogs to walk, deadlines to hit, bongo lessons to show up at, and just for men: tackling all the projects on your wife’s “honey-do” list – a renewable resource if there ever was one. On top of all that, being a caretaker for someone who really needs you [...]

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Self-Care for Caregivers: Tips on Balancing Your Own Needs with Those You Care For

Kaitlyn Teabo — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 21:09:35 +0000

Taking care of someone else is a selfless act of love, but it can easily become overwhelming. If you are a caregiver, you know how easy it is to put the needs of the person for whom you’re helping before your own. While it’s rewarding, it may also lead to illness, frustration, depression or exhaustion, any of which may undermine your effectiveness. Some Great Ways to Take Care of Yourself One of the most important, and often neglected, tasks of a caregiver is to take care of yourself. Your physical, emotional and mental health is vital for the well-being of [...]

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Caregiving: How long can I do this?

Carol Bradley Bursack — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:58:31 +0000

When was the last time you listened to birds singing? Or noticed tree leaf buds bursting open on a spring day? Or enjoyed the laughter of children? Can’t remember? That may mean you’re caring too much for other people and cheating yourself out of living your life. You also may be cheating yourself out of your health. Caregiving can be exhausting — emotionally, spiritually and physically. Of course, you want to do what is right (and you are) but how much is too much? And when you realize that it is too much, where do you turn for help? The [...]

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