Caring for an aging loved one can become a full-time job. Their emotional and physical needs can take a toll, so to ensure you’re taking the best care of them, it’s important to avoid caregiver burnout. Taking time for yourself and seeking assistance from a home health care service is the best way forward, and below, you’ll find tips to ensure you provide optimal care for your loved one and yourself.

How to Prevent Stress as a Caregiver

1. Make Personal Time

If you’re devoting all your time to your loved one, you’ll inevitably lose time for hobbies, meeting with friends, and just relaxing. You need to take personal time for your mental well-being, so set aside days or even hours throughout the day where you can do so. Enjoy your favorite activities, take a walk, or do something with your friends. By keeping yourself happy, you’ll be a more attentive caregiver.

2. Try Counseling

Being a caregiver is emotionally taxing. If you’re having difficulty managing your loved one’s condition or from seeing them fall ill, you need someone to confide in. Consider seeing a mental health professional to talk about your problems with. They can offer valuable advice for managing your emotions. You can also try group sessions to see how others who are in similar situations manage.

3. Watch Your Health

To properly do your job as a caregiver, you need to take all the steps to keep your body healthy. Try to get between 7 to 9 hours of sleep and eat a well-balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and low on red meat and saturated fats. Aim to exercise several times a week—a great way to enjoy time to yourself—and stay on top of health checkups. By keeping your body properly fueled, you’ll have more energy to assist your loved one and provide the absolute best home health care.

One of the best ways to alleviate the burden is to bring someone else into the picture. Lifetime Care has helped seniors and their families throughout the Finger Lakes region since 1960. With locations in Rochester, Dundee, Auburn, Newark, and Lakeville, their skilled home health care staff attends to over 33,000 clients in home and hospice care settings. Whether it’s a general hand around the house or more specific cancer care, they’ll take every step to ensure your loved one’s well-being. Visit the home health care agency’s website for a full breakdown of their services and call (585) 214-1000 to speak with a representative. You can also connect on Facebook for news and updates.