How to Relieve Stress When Caring for an Aging Parent or Spouse

Being the caregiver for an elderly parent or spouse is often a rewarding experience—but it can also be overwhelming. This video provides easy-to-follow tips for relieving the stress that comes with caring for someone else. Read more about avoiding caregiver burnout at http://www.vnsny.org/home-health-care-and-you/quick-tips/avoiding-caregiver-b...

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• caregiving
• caregiver
• elderly
• senior
• home care
• independent
• home health care
• decision how-to health
• stress
• aging
• parent
• spouse
• stressful
• ask for help
• do it all
• burden
• burnout
• home health aid
• support system
• take a break

[vnsnyvideo]

for Nina (cont),

Take care of yourself & your own health both physically & mentally. It will help to elevate your mood, which will help you take better care of her. Also, you may need to speak to a grief counselor since you may not have had a chance to properly grieve for the loss of your father. Hopefully some of these tips will help, & check out our website for further information, and good luck!

[vnsnyvideo]

Hi Nina,

In order to help yourself help your mom, educate yourself on schizophrenia & diabetes so you can have a better idea on how her illness is affecting her & your relationship. You may need to speak with her physician & psychiatrist to make sure her medications are working well.

Another way to (hopefully) prevent burnout is to schedule time away from caregiving duties & spend it on yourself. Perhaps if you have same time everyday, your mother will know this is time for you alone.

[vnsnyvideo]

I'm so sorry to hear about how hard it has been, and I'm glad you found the video useful. Please remember that you are not alone. There is lots of support for caregivers both online and in person. Organizations like ours can help with respite care even if it's a few hours so you can have some time for yourself, or longer term care both medical and personal. Please take care of yourself!

[NinaBell124]

This video helps. I'm 26 and I have been taking care of my Mom since my Dad passed away away three years ago. My Mom has diabetes and Schizophrenia. I lost my friends and my social life. I'm consumed by caregiving and my Mom makes me feel guilty if I don't do as she says. It sucks. What did I do to deserve this.

[careforcehomecare]

Well done VNSNY! One of the best of seen geared to influence caregivers to ask for help and not do this alone.

[SemperLoFi]

I wish i found this video 8 months ago. I feel like I am on my last last thread. I realized i was burning out about a month ago but I have been unable to develop that support system. I'm stuck and now feel some depression and anxiety sneaking up. I'm 33 and lost my career, significant relationships, my apt and most of my life is in a storage facility. I am seriously on the edge. I asked for it but its hard to find my diblings helping.

I am starting to feel hopeless.