Self-Care Tips for Daughters Who Are Caring for Senior Parents

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According to The University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study, daughters are more than twice as likely to become family caregivers than sons are. However, the caregiver role presents several challenges. If you’re a daughter who is caring for an aging parent, consider the following self-care tips. 

Overcome Self-Care Barriers

There are many reasons daughters might ignore self-care. They might feel they’re being selfish by spending time on their own needs, or they might not be assertive enough to ask others for help. Daughters might also falsely believe they must be self-sacrificing. All of these situations put them at risk for ill health. Change your thought processes and make self-care a priority.

Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing. If you’re caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide respite care. Potomac families who want to prevent burnout can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care. One of our professional caregivers can assist your loved one at home while you take a nap, go to work, run errands, or go on vacation.

Minimize Personal Stress

Stress adds undue wear and tear on the body, and it can lead to medical issues. Learn to recognize when you’re succumbing to stress. Some of the many symptoms of stress include becoming irritable, feeling overall fatigue, or forgetting things too often. Stop and evaluate where the stress originated, and try to find a solution. Make changes where possible, and learn to have patience in uncontrollable situations.

Caring for senior loved ones can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care Potomac for the help they need. We provide high-quality hospice and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.

Establish Goals

Goal setting provides caregivers with the chance to invest in self-care. The goals might be short-term or long-term in nature. Some examples include vowing to get more physical exercise or adopting a healthier diet. Consider scheduling time off. After setting the goal, take steps to achieve the end result. Promise yourself you’ll go for a walk once or twice a week, or plan to include an additional serving of fruits or vegetables in your diet every day. Gradually increase the steps toward the actual goal. 

Find Ways to Solve Your Problems

Life often involves unexpected challenges that may or may not be related to caregiving. However, they often cause added stress. Learn to identify the issue at hand, and try looking at the situation from a different viewpoint. Make a list of possible solutions, then try each one individually to find the best way to solve the problem. Include your spouse, other family members, or friends in the process. 

Communicate Effectively

Communication remains one of the most important tools for caregivers. When having conversation with their parents, daughters must ensure they convey their thoughts and feelings clearly and assertively. However, they must remember to respect the thoughts and feelings of others. Be specific when speaking to your loved one. Good communication also requires learning to be a good listener. 

If you’re finding it difficult to manage your caregiving duties on your own, consider hiring a professional caregiver. Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated home care service, Potomac, MD, families can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care. Our caregivers are expertly trained to assist seniors with a wide array of important tasks, including cooking, bathing, light housekeeping, and exercise. Contact one of our experienced Care Managers today at (301) 363-2580 to learn more about our reliable in-home care services.