It can be stressful when caregiving for elderly parents and young children.
If your days are overflowing with parenting, working, managing a home, caring for elderly parents, and trying to fit in time for yourself while nurturing other relationships, welcome to the sandwich generation! Consisting of those ages 35 – 54 who are “sandwiched” between meeting the needs of children at home and caring for elderly parents, it will not come as a shock to you that this demographic of people is facing higher levels of stress than any other, with up to 40 percent reporting severe levels of stress.
Katherine Nordal, PhD, executive director for professional practice, American Psychological Association, shares, “It’s not surprising that so many people in that age group are experiencing stress. The worry of your parents’ health, and your children’s well-being as well as the financial concern of putting kids through college and saving for your own retirement is a lot to handle.”
It is imperative to take appropriate steps to lessen stress levels, as long-term stress can cause cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, depression, diabetes and other serious health risks. On top of that, stress can carry over and affect the loved ones you’re working so hard to take care of.
Absolute Companion Care recommends the following guidelines to lessen stress and tap into a healthier life balance:
- Recognize your triggers. What exactly is it that tips the scale for you from busy to overburdened? Do your feelings of stress originate from relationships with your parents or children, financial concerns, issues at your workplace, feeling out of control?
- Note the manner in which you react to those triggers. As soon as you’ve acknowledged the source behind your increased stress, take an honest assessment of the way in which you respond. Do you lose patience with your family members? Have trouble with staying/falling asleep, or adhering to a healthy and balanced diet? Rely on unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as smoking or drinking?
- Make self-care a top priority. You give a great deal of yourself to care for your loved ones; make taking care of yourself just as important. You can only offer the best care if your own needs are met. Schedule designated time to relax, take part in enjoyable hobbies and activities, spend time with friends, exercise, etc. Your time away needs to be a top priority, and to happen on a regular basis – ideally, each day.
If you’re wondering how you can possibly carve out time for yourself with all the other obligations you’re managing, we can help! Absolute Companion Care is always here to provide trusted, highly skilled in-home respite care services – as much or as little as needed – to allow family caregivers peace of mind in knowing their older senior loved ones will be well cared for as they take necessary time to step away.
Our highly trained and experienced senior caregivers are ready and waiting to help you decrease your stress and discover an improved quality of life, both for yourself and the ones you love. Reach out to us at 410-357-9640 to set up a free in-home consultation and to learn more about our top-rated in home care in White Hall and the surrounding areas.