How Does Caregiving Affect Other Aspects of Your Life?

By Andy Niska | September 11, 2019 |

Caregiver Liberty Lake, WA: Caregiving Affects Other Aspects of Your Life

The hope you might have when you first start out as a caregiver is that your own life isn’t going to change too much. You’re only helping out here and there, after all, and you spend a lot of time with your senior anyway. The reality is that caregiving is a big part of your life and it can impact every single aspect of your life.

Your Social Life Suffers

Caregiving takes up a lot of time and a lot of energy. That doesn’t often leave you much of either to spend on friends and other family members. Your other relationships can suffer when you aren’t nurturing them the way that you used to do in the past. Lots of times the people in your life understand this, but you still have to make a little bit of an effort, too.

You Probably Have to Work, Too

Very few caregivers are able to devote every waking moment to caregiving. That means that you’re having to balance your work with your duties as a caregiver. Again, as with your social life, you run into the problem of having finite reserves of both time and energy. Lots of employers are becoming more understanding and supportive of caregivers and their needs, though, so be sure to find out what benefits might help you.

Caregiving Can Be an Emotional Rollercoaster

You’re going to experience every emotion under the sun while you’re a caregiver. There really isn’t a way to predict how different situations will affect you, either. Acknowledging your emotions and letting them teach you what you need to know can help quite a bit. Do what you can to protect your emotional health, even if that means starting to work now with a counselor. They can help you to find the right tools for you as a caregiver.

You Have Limits

No matter how much you want to be there every minute and for every need, you’re only human. You have your limits and you need occasional breaks. Make sure that you’re scheduling time to take care of yourself so that you can continue to try to be there as much as possible for your elderly family member. If you don’t, you run the potential risk of developing burnout.

Put some plans in place that help you to be a caregiver and to be you, too. You don’t stop being yourself just because you’re caring for someone that you love.

Excerpt: Caregiving can affect every single aspect of your life.

If you or an aging loved one are considering a Caregiver in Liberty Lake, WA, please contact the friendly staff at Love at Home Senior Care, today. Call (509)474-0663.

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Andy Niska

Owner at Love In Home Senior Care

Andy has over 20+ years experience in the medical community and has a true compassion for seniors. With a degree in Health Care Administration, he developed a background in a variety of health care services that only comes from first hand experience. While working as a manager of a large clinic and as an account executive for medical suppliers. Andy has built valuable relationships with the medical community.

His role in Love In Home Senior Care is to educate people on what care choice is the best fit for the senior and their family while attempting to make this decision as stress-free as possible for everyone involved.

This decision making process should be smooth and stress free for everyone, including all family members and their loved ones. Having access to people with experience (like the team at Love In Home Senior Care) to assist you along the way can help this process. With an extensive background in health care, Andy has the experience needed to guide and direct your loved one to the choice that is the best fit.