What Are the Red Flags for You as a Caregiver?

By Andy Niska | November 20, 2018 |

When you’re a family caregiver, you need to be aware of certain red flags that can let you know that you’re ignoring something really important. Usually what you’re ignoring is yourself. When you make changes to how you approach your self-care, you’re going to see all sorts of changes in your caregiving journey.

Caregiver in Spokane WA: Caregiver Red Flags

Questionable Eating Habits.

The food that you eat is the fuel that your body and your brain use in order to function properly. As the old adage tells you, “Garbage in, garbage out.” Relying on foods that are lower in nutritional value is going to take a toll on you physically, mentally, and emotionally. You can make changes to your eating habits slowly, but you definitely need to make changes.

Depriving Yourself of Sleep.

Sleep is when your body recharges and uses some of those nutrients you’re giving it. If you’re not sleeping, though, your body isn’t able to do the rebuilding that it needs to do. Lack of sleep also affects your brain. Learn what is keeping you from being able to sleep and change your approach.

Ignoring Your Own Illnesses.

That run-down feeling that you’ve had for three weeks isn’t necessarily normal. Neither is that chronic cough that won’t go away. But if you’re trying to ignore these issues and just hope that they’ll disappear, you’re going to be disappointed. And you’re probably going to find that something takes you forcibly away from caregiving when you least want that to happen. Talk to your own doctor regularly and face up to your own health issues.

Refusing to Take Time Away.

Taking respite time is another vital part of taking care of yourself. You can’t be a caregiver all day and all night with no break. Line up some help from home care providers and then take full advantage of your time away. Meet up with friends, take a course, or do absolutely nothing for a little while. Do whatever it is that you need or want to do.

If you spot any of these red flags in your own caregiving experience, you need to do something about it. Continuing to avoid doing something about these issues is only going to make the situation worse for you and for the people who care about you. If you want to continue being a caregiver, you have to take care of yourself as well as your aging family member.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Spokane, WA, please contact the friendly staff at Love at Home Senior Care, today. Call (509) 204-4088

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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.