MONROE - November is National Family Caregivers Month, and this year's theme is to "Take Care to Give Care."
According to the Aging and Disability Resource Center, the first rule of taking care of others is take care of yourself first. Caregiving can be a rewarding experience, but it also is demanding physically and emotionally. Family caregivers should remember to pay attention to their own physical and mental health and get proper rest and nutrition, the center said in a press release.
Caregiving can be a stressful job. Most family caregivers say they feel stressed providing care for a loved one, according to the ADRC. With all of their caregiving responsibilities - from managing medications to arranging doctor appointments to planning meals - caregivers too often put themselves last.
The stress of caregiving impacts a caregiver's health. The ADRC said one out of five caregivers admits they have sacrificed their own physical health while caring for a loved one. Due to stress, family caregivers have a disproportionate number of health and emotional problems. They are twice as likely to suffer depression and are at increased risk for many other chronic conditions.
Proper nutrition helps promote good health. Ensuring proper nutrition is key to maintaining strength, energy and stamina, as well as strengthening the immune system.
Remember: "Rest. Recharge. Respite." The ADRC said people think of respite as a luxury, but considering caregivers' higher risk for health issues from chronic stress, those risks can be a lot costlier than some time away to recharge. Taking a breather and re-energizing is vital to being a good caregiver.
For information about local resources or with specific questions about caregiving, call the ADRC at 608-328-9499.
According to the Aging and Disability Resource Center, the first rule of taking care of others is take care of yourself first. Caregiving can be a rewarding experience, but it also is demanding physically and emotionally. Family caregivers should remember to pay attention to their own physical and mental health and get proper rest and nutrition, the center said in a press release.
Caregiving can be a stressful job. Most family caregivers say they feel stressed providing care for a loved one, according to the ADRC. With all of their caregiving responsibilities - from managing medications to arranging doctor appointments to planning meals - caregivers too often put themselves last.
The stress of caregiving impacts a caregiver's health. The ADRC said one out of five caregivers admits they have sacrificed their own physical health while caring for a loved one. Due to stress, family caregivers have a disproportionate number of health and emotional problems. They are twice as likely to suffer depression and are at increased risk for many other chronic conditions.
Proper nutrition helps promote good health. Ensuring proper nutrition is key to maintaining strength, energy and stamina, as well as strengthening the immune system.
Remember: "Rest. Recharge. Respite." The ADRC said people think of respite as a luxury, but considering caregivers' higher risk for health issues from chronic stress, those risks can be a lot costlier than some time away to recharge. Taking a breather and re-energizing is vital to being a good caregiver.
For information about local resources or with specific questions about caregiving, call the ADRC at 608-328-9499.
