By Kate Scheirman, MSW, LSW, Patient Health Advocate, and Lisa Bolt, AllOne Health<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere are only 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 a caregiver.\u201d<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only when we first help ourselves can we effectively help others. Caring for yourself is one of the most important things you can do as a caregiver\u2014and one of the most overlooked. When your needs are taken care of, the person you\u2019re caring for will benefit, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, caregivers often report concerns with managing their own well-being while also managing caregiving responsibilities. Concerns include sleep deprivation, poor eating habits, failure to exercise, and failure to take care of themselves when ill or make timely medical appointments for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While it\u2019s important to take care of yourself first, we all know that\u2019s easier said than done. Recognizing your limitations and looking for ways to ease your stress and build resiliency is critical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Allow time to refuel with rest and relaxation, maintain a healthy diet, and take care of your own health. After all, your mood is very important to the person you are caring for, and providing the best care possible will be challenging if you are exhausted or stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To move forward on your path to wellness, you must continually commit to authentic self-care that includes: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Preparing for what\u2019s next <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Take steps to prepare for what might happen. When a situation becomes stressful, you will be able to make better decisions and options will be readily available. Being prepared will help you avoid falling into \u201canalysis paralysis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being prepared is often referred to as \u201ccommon sense preparedness.\u201d Just as athletes train and musicians practice, you can learn new skills, gain knowledge, and line up support that will help you remain level-headed, focused, and forward-thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your Assistance Program is here to help\u2014providing access to information and referrals for mental health support, eldercare, housing, medical advocacy, estate planning, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Copyright \u00a9 2023 AllOne Health Resources, Inc. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Kate Scheirman, MSW, LSW, Patient Health Advocate, and Lisa Bolt, AllOne Health \u201cThere are only 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 a caregiver.\u201d \u2014Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter Only when we first…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":13567,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[199],"tags":[1090,1094,1091,1097,1083,1096,1089,1081,1093,1092,1086,1088,1087,1095,1085,1084,1082],"class_list":["post-13558","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-whole-health","tag-acknowledging-the-challenges-of-caregiving","tag-addressing-caregiver-burnout-and-stress","tag-advocating-for-caregiver-rights-and-benefits","tag-building-a-network-for-caregivers-to-share-experiences-and-support-each-other","tag-caregiver-empowerment-initiatives","tag-celebrating-the-contributions-of-caregivers","tag-creating-a-supportive-community-for-caregivers","tag-empowering-caregivers","tag-encouraging-open-communication-and-feedback-from-caregivers","tag-facilitating-caregiver-training-programs","tag-fostering-a-caregiver-friendly-workplace","tag-offering-mental-health-support-for-caregivers","tag-promoting-self-care-for-caregivers","tag-promoting-work-life-balance-for-caregivers","tag-providing-resources-for-caregiver-education","tag-recognizing-and-valuing-caregivers","tag-support-for-caregivers"],"yoast_head":"\n\n