Being a family caregiver can be incredibly fulfilling, but it can also be challenging, stressful, and demanding. It is crucial to take care of yourself as a caregiver, as you cannot provide the best care for your loved one if you neglect your own physical, emotional, and mental needs. Here are five ways to take care of yourself as a family caregiver:

1. Make time for yourself: It is essential to have time for yourself as a caregiver. Set aside time each day to do something that you enjoy, whether it's reading a book, taking a walk, or practicing yoga. Utilize respite care services to take some time off from your caregiving duties, allowing you to recharge and relax.
   
2. Establish a support system: You do not need to go through caregiving alone. Reach out to friends, family, or a support group. These individuals can provide you with emotional support, offer advice and resources, and be a listening ear when you need to vent or express your feelings.
3. Prioritize your health: Caregiving can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Follow a healthy diet, get enough rest, and exercise regularly. Incorporating self-care activities into your daily routine can help reduce stress and improve your overall well-being.
4. Set boundaries: It is vital to set limits on what you can and cannot do as a caregiver. Establish boundaries with your loved one and family members, communicate your needs and limitations, and say no when needed. This can help prevent burnout and allow you to maintain a healthy balance between your caregiving responsibilities and personal life.
5. Stay organized: Keeping track of appointments, medications, and other caregiving responsibilities can be overwhelming. Create a schedule and a to-do list, use a calendar and a reminder app, and delegate tasks to other family members or professionals when possible.

Caregiving can be a rewarding but also challenging experience. Taking care of yourself as a caregiver is essential to provide the best care for your loved one. By making time for yourself, establishing a support system, prioritizing your health, setting boundaries, and staying organized, you can reduce stress and prevent burnout, allowing you to be the best caregiver possible.

Life blindsided our family in the fall of 2018 when my wife, Pat, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that quickly progressed to stage IV. After a torturous 17-month journey of tests, chemotherapy, ER visits, surgeries, extended hospital stays, and clinical trials, Pat went to her heavenly home. But the chaos pancreatic cancer tried to create could not steal our joy of life, kill our faith or destroy our hope for the future.
My bride of over 35 years blessed us with three terrific children. They, in turn, have blessed us with seven grandchildren, ranging in age from 9 to 1 year old. Close geographic proximity and strong relationships allowed us to help care for our six oldest grandchildren together before cancer took Pat’s life in 2020. It is one of the greatest blessings we have ever had. Our grandchildren truly stole our hearts.
I learned a few key lessons from caring for our grandkids that helped me care for my beautiful spouse. Now, I am absolutely not implying to ever treat an adult like a child. Adults who need assistance in daily life deserve respect, dignity and the ability to maintain some type of independence. They have feelings, thoughts and opinions that must always be considered. However, beginning-of-life and end-of-life care share some characteristics.

Here's a great article to read that gives eight tips on how to provide assistance — and help yourself, if you are experiencing caring for a loved one while retired or are anticipating this scenario in the near future.
This quick read, written by Richard Eisenberg, hits on some of those high points and gives a bit of healthy advice in the process.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis, free help is immediately available.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, via phone, text and online chat, offering people compassionate care and support from trained crisis counselors for individuals, families or their loved ones. One does not have to be suicidal to call 988 but can reach out when experiencing any behavioral health crisis. 988 call services are available in English and Spanish, along with interpretation services in more than 150 languages. Texting 988 and online chat are currently available only in English. Veterans and military service members can call 988 and press “1” to connect with the Veterans Crisis Line.

Exposure to social stress was associated with accelerated aging of the immune system, according to an NIA-funded study recently published in PNAS. The body’s immune system changes as people age, and there’s large variability in these changes. The study, led by researchers at UCLA, investigated whether social stressors added to immune system decline.
 
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Shadow comforts and quick fixes deplete and exhaust.
Check out these ten ways to solve the self-care conundrum.

"Delirium is a sudden change in your alertness and thinking. People with delirium typically become confused and have trouble paying attention."

Healthline's Chitra Badii continues, "Delirium is an abrupt change to your mental state. It makes it difficult to think, remember, focus, and more. Some people with delirium become drowsy and quiet, while others can become agitated."

Badii expands her article to cover:

• Types
  
• Causes
• Risk factors
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Outlook