November is National Family Caregivers Month, a chance to pay tribute to the roughly 90 million Americans who dedicate themselves to caring for sick, aging or disabled loved ones. Given the countless hours these individuals dedicate to caring for others, the theme of this year’s event is “Take Care to Give Care.”
Just as adults flying with children are advised to attend to their own needs before assisting their children in the event of an emergency, so too the primary rule in caregiving must be take care of yourself first. Caregiving is physically and emotionally demanding and the stress can take a toll on caregivers’ health.
Unfortunately, given all their responsibilities, which often includes everything from managing medications and arranging doctor appointments to planning meals and helping patients meet their physical needs, caregivers too often put themselves last.
The result: one out of five caregivers admit they have sacrificed their own physical health while caring for a loved one. Nearly three quarters (72 percent) of family caregivers report not going to the doctor as often as they should. More than six out of ten (63 percent) report having poor eating habits and almost as many (58 percent) indicate worse exercise habits than before caregiving responsibilities, according to a survey by the National Alliance for Caregiving. When combined with the stress of the job, that can translate to a weakened immune system, and higher rates of depression and other chronic conditions, according to the Caregiver Action Network.
“Each family I work with I tell them, ‘Watch the caregiver’s plate. Make sure they’re getting enough sleep and are eating well and exercising and doing what they need to do to lower their stress,” says Randy Nutter, a licensed clinical social worker with St. Elizabeth Cancer Care Center. Caregivers need to tap their support networks and accept offers of help so they can maintain their physical and emotional energy.
Remember: “Rest. Recharge. Respite.”
