Self-Care and Assisted Living: Don’t Forget About Yourself!

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Before we get into the reality of such an emotional topic like home care services, we at Seniors Helping Seniors want our readers to know that we realize that while we do not know the specifics of you and your loved one’s situation, we do understand that even these conversations and decisions are among the most difficult and sensitive that anyone has to experience. But the reality of the situation is that there comes a period in everyone’s life where they simply cannot function well on their own anymore.

On the one hand, some people might want to ensure the absolute safety of their loved one, even before they are necessarily ready for such a life-changing step such as a nursing home or senior care services in general. This is completely natural and comes from a well-intentioned spirit. But such a choice can come with the price of taking away your loved one’s livelihood and autonomy. While on the other hand, it can be easy to make excuses for your loved ones and ignore the sobering signs that he or she is ready for elderly home care. It makes sense; they raised you. That person has likely always been a foundational strength for you and perhaps the rest of your family, offering emotional and financial support throughout your childhood and maybe beyond. It can be a strange feeling and one easy to ignore, to admit to yourself that, to some degree, it’s time for assisted living.

Self-Care

Self-care is wildly important during this difficult time. If you are like most people, you will (or are already) neglect your own needs by not listening to your body or mind. It is understandable because so much of your time is spent worrying about the wellbeing of your mother or father, or whoever your loved one may be. What most people don’t actually realize is that they have unknowingly taken on a new job, the job of a caregiver.

Caregivers for in-home health care get training, emotional support, and payment for the difficult position they have. Some common signs of caregiving stress are:

• Difficulty Sleeping
• New or Worsening Health Problems
• Trouble Concentrating
• Drinking, Smoking, or Eating More
• Trouble Concentrating
• Anxiety, Irritability, Depression
• Constant Feeling of Exhaustion
• Feeling Helpless and Hopeless
• Feeling Increasingly Resentful

These are concerning symptoms. And we encourage you to take a few minutes of genuine self-inventory to determine if any of these symptoms have cropped up in your own life. The last thing that we want anyone to do is to take on the emotional and physical stress of the situation. Furthermore, if you are experiencing feelings of resentment centered around your loved one and their situation, that is a massive sign that some kind of senior care change is in order.

Our Mission

At Seniors Helping Seniors, it is our mission to give help and independence to seniors, and often we see family member’s relationships with one another improving as a natural byproduct.

When you have more to allocate towards simply being with your loved one during the latter stages of their life, your relationship could improve significantly. More quality time means more time to remember and reminisce over the good times, instead of getting bogged down in logistics and stress.

Our senior care services aim to provide the appropriate help your loved one's needs, while giving them the tools to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. Independent living is possible in many situations, and is often a great alternative to the full-on nursing home approach. If you are feeling like now is the time to make a change towards home care services, please reach out to us today.