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Self-care (for the caregivers)

KnitHappens
KnitHappens Member Posts: 2
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in Caring for a Parent

I'm helping to care for a parent (ALZ) with my sister. Mom even lives in a retirement community (still independent living) so day to day I do have my own life. It is still so hard. I went to visit for lunch today and now feel exhausted and can't refocus on work. I can't even imagine how much more difficult if I had her in my home, etc.

How do you take care of your mental health? What helps you to still get things done for yourself? What suggestions do you have for me as I know I'm just at the beginning of this journey?

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  • --Rebecca--
    --Rebecca-- Member Posts: 76
    25 Likes 10 Comments 5 Care Reactions 5 Insightfuls Reactions
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    Accepting the situation, and letting go of the impulse to fix every thing. Taking periodic time off. Letting go of how I expect holidays to look.

    Analyzing situations with self care in mind. For example, I only visit my dad in memory care when I am rested, and I only visit for less than one hour.

    Making decisions on the fly is exhausting. So creating rules makes things easier for me. Some of my examples:

    I call him at 7. If he exhausts me, it's toward the end of the day.

    I do not drive long distance and see my dad when I immediately roll into town.

    If he gets rude, I do not engage, I say it's time for me to go, and I leave.

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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