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Managing The Stress ~ Making The Decisions ~ Discovering The Meaning |
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Solutions To Your Caregiving Situations Throughout Your Caregiving Years |
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Weekly Caregiver Tip (August 21, 2000) Enjoying your time with your care recipient Remembering what you loved Stepping out of your roles as caregiver and care recipient can be a powerful way to put your relationship back on track. If you constantly remain in your roles as caregiver/care recipient, you lose the benefits of a relationship that you used to enjoy. For instance, maybe you resent having to bathe your mother. Well, she may very well resent having to be bathed. Try to set aside time on a regular basis to enjoy just being together, as mother-daughter, husband-wife, father-son. Activities together don't have to be elaborate: 1. Watch a favorite movie with a batch of fresh-popped popcorn. 2. Sit on your front porch on a Saturday afternoon to enjoy the sights and sounds of your neighborhood. 3. Plan this year's family vacation together. Your care recipient can't accompany the family? Ask her to share memories of her favorite vacations. 4. Enjoy a leisurely ride in the car on a Sunday afternoon. Stop for a special treat, such as decadent ice cream creations. 5. Sort through family photograph books, reliving and remembering you and your care recipient's favorite memories. Daily steps toward a healthier relationship You want to get along with your care recipient, but sometimes the rigors of caregiving make that difficult. You sometimes feel full of so much anger! Pent-up feelings may get in the way of a healthy relationship with your care recipient. Try to make time every day to vent your frustration, anger or guilt. Some appropriate ways to vent include: 1. A daily journal--for your eyes only. So, let it out! 2. A support group. Whether your support group in online or at your place of worhsip, try to attend and participate as often as you can. 3. A good friend. Everyone needs their own "caregiver"; a good friend will let you express your frustrations in a safe--and confidential--environment. 4. Exercise and activity. A vigorous walk can let the steam our of your engines and invigorate you. 5. Plans for the future. Thinking ahead--of how you want your life to be in six months, one year, five years--will help you keep perspective and propel you to taking steps toward making that future a reality.
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The
Caregiving Years: |
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© Tad
Publishing Co. 2000 |
