Self-Care for Caregivers of People with Dementia

When someone you love has dementia, it can be all-consuming to take care of them day after day. Caregivers experience higher degrees of burnout when they aren’t prioritizing their own self-care. In turn, this can make them a less patient and empathic caregiver, when actually, they’re just exhausted.

If you’re in this situation right now, here are some easy ways you can implement self-care strategies to keep yourself healthier:

Join a Support Group

Joining a caregivers support group will help you feel less alone, give you a social outlet, and normalize the feelings that you have about the challenges of caring for your loved one with dementia. Look for a group that meets on a regular basis so that you always have a place to vent about your feelings, challenges, and wins.

Don’t Neglect Your Hobbies

Often, caregivers sacrifice the things that they love to do to better care for their loved one with dementia. They might find that their artistic pursuits get laid to the side. If exercising was their hobby, they might not make time for a daily run.

Even when you might rather be sleeping, try engaging with your hobbies at least a few times each week.

Take Breaks Frequently

Spending every minute of the day with your loved one with dementia can be taxing, emotionally and physically. You need to take breaks, even if all you do is take a few deep breaths. If you have Winnipeg in-home care, you’ll know that your loved one is safe, and you can get a few things done for yourself, like grocery shopping or meditating.

Make sure that your breaks aren’t always taken up by chores, though. While it can feel good to cross things off your to-do list, you also need to nourish yourself.

Find Ways To Laugh

Caring for someone with dementia can be a heavy burden to bear. You need to introduce a little levity into your life, so find ways to laugh. Watch a few minutes of stand-up comedy, talk with a funny friend, and/or scroll through YouTube for hilarious videos that appeal to you.

The important thing is that you’re taking the time to truly enjoy yourself—even if it only lasts for a few minutes.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask for Help

One of the hardest things you may have to do is ask for help with the long-term care of your loved one with dementia. Right At Home Winnipeg offers dementia care in Winnipeg so that your loved one can remain in their home for as long as possible. When you find yourself feeling the effects of burnout on the horizon, reach out to us to learn more about how our services can help!

Why Right at Home?

• Over 20 years of experience. Right at Home has been providing award winning customized senior care and home care for over 20 years.
• YOUR Caregivers are all part of YOUR Care Team. This means that there is no revolving door of Personal Support Workers and Nurses. With the help of your Care Planner, you choose and get to know them. This leads to an level of care for your loved one that is unsurpassed in our industry.
• Working with government support. Your Care Planner will work to help you find the government supports you are eligible for (if you would like them) and then work to find a solution for the care needs that go above what government and family can do. We will also work around the government care plan so that we are enhancing it.

We help in home, wherever home is to you.

Our Caregivers are always out in the community visiting homes, Retirement Residences, Long Term Care (LTC), hospices and hospitals.