Caregiving for seniors at the end of their life can, and will, be physically and emotionally exhausting for most people. It is very important that caregivers should take some time for themselves away from caregiving tasks to balance their emotions & health and avoid burning out. 

As a caregiver, it is important that you take care and T.R.E.A.T. yourself right. Here is how to do it:

T  for Talk

There is a high probability that you will experience a range of feelings & emotions such as fear, anger, denial, or even resentment towards your loved one’s illness & the demands of caring for them.

Talking about your problems & feelings can help to relieve stress. Find a friend you can confide in, or talk to a counsellor, a social worker, or a chaplain to let go of negative emotions that weigh you down – mentally & physically.

R for Rest

Taking care of seniors will bring a certain amount of stress onto the caregiver, and too much stress can literally break a person: body pains, digestive problems, sleep problems, depression, etc.

If you are not well, you can do nothing good for your seniors. Take a break once in a while, go see a movie, take a walk outside, meet up with your friends, or just simply rest at home to lower your stress level. Make sure you are getting an adequate amount of sleep, a reasonable amount of physical activities, and have times to do the things that you enjoy.

You may feel worried and not so confident to take a break if there is no one present to aid your loved one. Other family members, friends, volunteers, or professional caregivers like the CAREgivers from Home Instead Senior Care Outer East can help regarding palliative and respite care.

E for Eat

A healthy diet is vital to your overall wellbeing. A good diet can also help you think clearly and give you an energy boost. It is easy to let basic tasks slip when you are under pressure, so make sure to eat regular meals and maintain a healthy diet for yourself.

A for Accept

You are not alone when it comes to providing care for your seniors. There are many people that are willing to lend you a hand when you are struggling, so learn to accept help from them. Don’t take accepting support from others as a sign of weakness or that you can’t cope. With some little help here and there from others, from cooking meals, running errands, or extra support with respite care, the quality of caregiving for your seniors will be even better, and your health will also be improved.

T for Time

Set out some time to plan ahead, get yourself prepared, and have support strategies in place to watch over you and your loved ones at every stages of their end of life journey. This will help you to make the most of the time you have left with your seniors, and ensure that their final days are as positive, supportive, and comfortable as possible.

If you are unwell, you will not be able to take care of your seniors as well as you have planned. So take care of yourself first to ensure that your seniors will have the best caregiving experience as possible!

Thanks for reading through this Blog, I hope you have found it useful. If you require any further assistance please feel free to contact the office.

Kind regards,
Suzanne McLoughlin
Owner of Home Instead Senior Care Outer East

P.S. We provide free Care Consultations and resource guides to support and guide families. Download your free copies from our Aged Care Resources page or Request a Free Information Pack to receive a hard copy.