It’s awfully easy as a caregiver to wake up one day and realize that you’re handling every single task every day. That’s overwhelming in the short run and in the long run it’s completely unsustainable. You need to have a better answer and that means you need to reevaluate what you’re doing.
Put a Support System Together
Everyone needs a support system in every area of their lives. For you as a caregiver, a support system is absolutely crucial. It’s what gives you the emotional and practical support that you need to keep on being a caregiver. Your support system might be made up of friends, family members, and a variety of other people in your life and in your senior’s life. Keep an open mind about who and what make up your support system.
Look Realistically at What You Alone Can Do
There truly is a lot that you can do on your own, but you can’t do it all. There’s a limit and you might find that your limits vary depending on how you’re feeling and on what else is going on. The important thing is that you start to learn and to respect your own boundaries. When you can do that effectively, you’re on the right path to getting the help that you need.
Learn to Delegate to Your Support System
Once you’ve got a handle at what you can do and what you need help doing, you need to rely on your support system. Determine who can handle what for you and ask those folks to take those tasks on for you. If no one in your support system can take those tasks over for you, that doesn’t mean you’re left in the lurch. Home care providers might be the right solution for your situation.
Perfection Is Going to Be a Problem
Trying to be perfect is always a problem, but it’s particularly an issue for caregivers. Perfection is going to keep you doing more and more, but getting less from all of that effort. Slow down and let yourself delegate. You don’t have to get it all right all the time. Start to feel okay with “good enough,” because that’s going to serve you better than perfection does.
Being a caregiver is tough, but it’s even more difficult if you’re the one left doing everything. There are ways to resolve that issue, but you might have to get creative with your situation.