Education
This episode is about the most important aspect of caregiving that affects everyone. Caregivers manage the lives of people who can’t do for themselves and they do this while caring for their own families and trying to maintain jobs. Caregivers are the first to jump in and help when someone needs it and that’s great, but they need to know when to stop and take care of themselves. Having a plan for caregiving is the best way to prevent caregiver burnout. A plan should include things that support every area of your life. Daily self-care, establishing healthy boundaries and knowing your limits are a few examples. These are a few important things caregivers should consider: 1. When someone needs urgent care stay aware and don't forfeit your care from the start. 2. It’s important to listen to other people who care about you and not be defensive about your caregiving. 3. Your care recipient will listen to you when you set an example for them. 4. It’s admirable to be a caregiver but your life is just as important. By not taking care of yourself you’re setting a poor example for your family and placing a burden of guilt on the care recipient. I have two daughters and when my mother developed early onset dementia at age 59, she had no one else to care for her. I didn't feel I had a choice. Looking back, I realized I did. I chose to take care of her, because the consequences would have been too painful for all of us. I also had a choice in the level of attention I gave to her care. Maybe not at first, but everything I did came from my choices in how I handled things. I speak from experience when I say there’s a way to incorporate your own well-being within the realms of caregiving for someone else, but it takes effort and conscious determination. It requires for you to value and love yourself enough to place yourself as a priority. Start by ignoring others opinions about the type of care you should be. Get to know yourself and whether you have the skills needed. Admit if you don't. You can move forward taking care of yourself without guilt. You can decide not to take care of someone if it’s not good for you. There will always be someone who disagrees but it’s not their life. It’s yours. I hope I can encourage you to value your life more and get help you need, so you can shine and be good for those you love. redefiningcaregiving@samdamm.com Redefining Caregiving Website :https://samdamm.com/ FB-Redefining Caregiving: https://www.facebook.com/redefiningcaregiving Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redefiningcaregivingbook/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sammijodamm Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/redefiningcaregiving Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/redefining-caregiving-mindful-approach-to-caregiving/id1461707754?uo=4 Remember to include yourself in the care you give! Always Caring, Sam Damm --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/redefiningcaregiving/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/redefiningcaregiving/support