Caring for an aging loved one can be stressful. You need to devote much of your time and energy to your caregiving duties, and you may also need to carve out blocks of time to care for other family members and focus on work obligations. Make time for yourself to disengage and relax so you can approach your caregiving duties with a positive attitude. Here are five fun things you can do while taking a break from caregiving.
1. Explore Your Ancestry
When exploring your ancestry, you may discover you’re related to a past president, a famous author, or even a celebrity. There are several online companies that provide ancestry exploration services, and in addition to finding out who your ancestors are, you may discover surprises about your ethnicity. You can share your findings with your loved one, who may be just as excited as you are to learn the details of your rich ancestral history.
Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing. If you’re caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide respite care. Frederick families who want to prevent burnout can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care. One of our professional caregivers can assist your loved one at home while you take a nap, go to work, run errands, or go on vacation.
2. Visit an Animal Shelter
The dogs and cats at the animal shelter will make you smile, and you might even meet a new furry friend to take home. Holding and petting animals can ease stress and may play an important role in lowering blood pressure.
Another way to reduce stress is to have a trained professional caregiver join your caregiving team. There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to address if their families opt for professional elderly home care. You can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep your loved one safe and comfortable while aging in place.
3. Get a Makeover
As a caregiver, you often put the needs of others before your own. Getting a makeover and pampering yourself can make you happy and brighten your mood. A new look might make you feel like a different person who has more energy, hope, and a better outlook on life.
Your makeover doesn’t need to be expensive or elaborate. There are many beauty salons that offer package deals at reasonable prices. A new haircut or color along with a manicure and pedicure might be just what you need to recharge your batteries so you can be a happier, more energetic caregiver. Another benefit of getting a makeover is that your positive mood may rub off on your loved one, inspiring him or her to get a makeover as well.
4. Try a New Restaurant
Venturing out of your comfort zone by trying an exotic dish at a new restaurant is a fun activity to consider while taking a break from caregiving. A new restaurant will take you away from your mundane routine, and it may even become a favorite of yours, which gives you something to look forward to should you become frustrated or disenchanted with your daily routine.
5. Reconnect with Old Friends
Being the sole caregiver to a loved one can socially isolate you. Reconnecting with old friends can put things in a positive perspective so you’re better prepared to manage the challenges and frustrations of caregiving. Spending time with your friends every now and then will lift your mood so you’ll be more apt to enjoy the triumphs and happy times you share with your loved one. If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care Frederick families can trust. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. Contact one of our experienced Care Managers today to learn more about our reliable in-home care services.
