You might be a caregiver if you do things for someone who can’t.
Things like:
- Cooking or cleaning.
- Taking them to doctor’s appointments.
- Helping them take their medicines.
Caregiving is a very important job. It can be rewarding—and hard. Taking care of yourself is very important! You can’t take care of anyone else if you aren’t well yourself.
Caring for yourself is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO! In an emergency on an airplane, you put on your own oxygen mask before helping others. It’s the same with caregiving! You need to take care of yourself first.
Have the right mindset
Learn about your loved one’s illness. Understand what your loved one is going through. You will also know what to expect in the future. Sometimes their behavior might be challenging. It’s often because of their illness. Knowing this can help you cope.
Focus on what you can change. If you don’t like something, ask yourself if you can change it. If not, try to focus on things that you can change.
Take care of your emotions
Talk to a therapist. It’s OK to get professional help. Therapists can help you through the emotional challenges of caregiving. If you don’t have one, you can call the number on the back of your health insurance card.
Find time to relax. Even a few minutes can help. Try something like walking, praying, meditating, or listening to music. Taking this time is as important as helping someone else.
Get support
Use local services like support groups, meal delivery, and home-care services. If you need to know what organizations could help, call the number on the back of your insurance card. Ask for a care manager. Your loved one’s doctor’s office may have one too.
Reach out to organizations you work with. Talk to your church, synagogue, mosque, community groups, and friends. People often want to help. Give them specific suggestions.
Ask for help and accept it when offered. It’s OK to need help and ask for it. When people offer to help, accept it. Many people will want to help but may not know how. Offer a few specific suggestions that your helper can choose from.
Take care of your physical health
Keep up with your doctor appointments. This includes with your primary care provider, dentist, eye doctor, and any specialists. You can only take care of someone if you are healthy!
To learn more about self-care and community resources, email contactknovasolutions@workpartners.com or call 1-800-355-0885 (TTY: 711). We are available Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time.