Help and advice for carers

It is very important that carers take regular breaks and manage their own mental and physical health.

Empathy

Putting yourself in the position of the person you are caring for can help you to get an understanding of how they feel, which may help you to empathise with them.

Sometimes you may that your patient or loved one is being particularly difficult, even though you are doing your best to care for them, but if you stop for a second and think about how things look to them you may begin to see things from their perspective.

How would you feel if you woke up surrounded by a sea of unfamiliar faces who claim to be your family? What would it feel like to be forced to depend on another person just to be able to relieve yourself? What would it be like to be bed-bound the majority of the time, unable to walk anywhere alone?

In these moments, it is important to remember why you decided to become a carer in the first place. Remind yourself of the difference that you are making in this person’s life and how you are allowing them to live the highest quality of life possible in their condition.

Rest

Always remember to rest. If you find yourself feeling upset or tired when caring for your patient or loved one, try and step away for a moment.

Even just a small break can give you enough time to get some perspective.

Get help

 

Try and find someone else who can help you care for the person, should you not be able to. Asking a neighbour or family member to take over for even just a few hours can give you time to recover.

Look after yourself

 

Taking care of yourself allows you to better care for others.

You know yourself better than anyone else does. Treat yourself the same way you would treat the loved ones that you care for. Listen to your body and don’t push your thoughts and feelings to the side.

Know that you are making a big difference.

Sometimes when taking care of a person who suffers from a chronic condition or whose health is continuously declining, it is easy to feel discouraged.

But every day that you choose to dedicate energy, love, and passion towards caring for others, you are shining a light into someone’s life and making a difference.

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