It is really hard , emotionally and physically draining , to care for someone 24 hrs a day . No matter where I have read something about caregiving , I always read the same thing ...Your health comes first , mentally AND physically . Personally I put everyone and everything else first , as do probably all of you - that is what makes us who we are , care givers. I have to learn how to do otherwise and in doing so , I feel a lot of guilt , etc...However, it has become essential for me to do this or there is going to be some major burnout , let alone a stroke or something . I say this because my blood pressure has always been perfect . Lately it has skyrocketed to the 170's. This just seemed to happen overnight , I wasnt paying attention to myself . I shared that with you because I know how easy it is to forget about YOU ..and we are the only ones a lot of our loved ones have. Please be kind to yourself , treat yourself , make yourself happy ...its ok to be #1 for a while.
To this, yes, you have to put yourself first. You won't be any good to the person or persons you're looking after if you're in the hospital bed next to them. I speak from dang near experience.
We HAVE to take care of ourselves too as we ARE just as important as the one we're caring for.
I know that can be easier said than done when you're in the throes of it all, but you MUST remember to make/take time for yourself to do things that bring you joy.
And like the airlines always remind us when we are getting ready for takeoff, in case of an emergency make sure that you put your oxygen mask on FIRST, so you can then better help others.
It's the very same with caregiving. If we don't first take care of ourselves we can be of no good helping others.
If Mom is not Mom anymore, she will not even realize you have placed her. I was lucky my Mom transitioned to AL and later LTC with no problems. She was in her 6 and 7th stage. Believe me its so nice to just be able to visit. Be able to sleep thru the night. Have time with ur DH.
When I was a caregiver my blood pressure shot up to unhealthy levels. Caregiving takes a toll on us emotionally and physically.
Ckamelian,
Take care of yourself. I wish you well.
I always knew I couldn't do it. I always encourage people to embrace their limitations, because quite honestly I have had to come solidly to terms with my own.
I was an RN. I loved it. But it taught me early on that I could never do home care 24/7 for anyone, least of all for a family member, no matter how beloved (and I lucked out with the best family ever).
I simply am not strong enough, good enough. I am too anxious to attempt it. I would be overwhelmed instantly. I would burn out. I would change my relationship to the one I loved inexorably and I fear permanently.
I loved my job. But I only did it three days a week.
I had five weeks vacation. I had a rich salary and I had 12 ill days and 12 personal/holiday day. I had help when I needed it (yeah, we all retired with bad backs; that's a part of it no matter HOW many body mechanics classes they give us).
There were times I loved my job so much I didn't want to leave my patient to another nurse the next day and would work extras because of this.
But that's not 24/7. And honestly, investing what you have to in the care of another human being, I don't see how it is possibly done.
I am kind of known here for my "time for placement" attitude. Yet I have read about people who devoted YEARS to the care of their loved one. Gretchen Staebler, who wrote a book I love called MOTHERLODE (memoir is recommended highly) came home to care for a Mom in her 90s. That mom lived to more than 100. She had the loving support of a sister in the same town and another who lived elsewhere. Still. I read that memoir with my mouth hanging open. And I don't know where this kind of devotion comes from.
Good post, Ck. Makes us all THINK, I think.
Best to you.
any advice for how to be nicer?
A quick update . .I have found an adult day health program I take mom to on Tues and Thurs from 12 to 445 .. omygosh...I was really nervous at first, I stayed within a block worried something was going to happen . So yes I experienced some separation anxiety but guess what ,by the 2 or 3 time ,I practically live for those days! I feel so ..free ..almost like me ...I know it sounds small but trust me they need a break from you as much as you do them . It breaks the isolation ,it helps you reset , please do this for everyone I promise you will feel so relieved !!
I can remember having my aunt's house cleaned. We sat outside in her yard while the cleaning people worked in her house. The skies all of a sudden grew dark. I told aunt let's go to your neighbor's house. It's going to rain. If I can tell you the effort I made to get her out of her chair to walk a few feet to the neighbor's house. One, she kept arguing that it wouldn't rain. Two, she kept falling asleep on me. I finally got her up and safe from the rain, but I actually collapsed from exhaustion she put on me. It's draining and local cousins that live near aunt expected me to move in and make this my life!
I realised that even for the non-hands on carers out there, just being involved, in the orbit of people with high needs can be very taxing.
I went 'off grid' (or acted as if I was) when on a break. I certainly encouraged her to do the same.
Separation anxiety is real. Interesting & uplifting to hear you talk about it Ckamilian.
The hospice team just signed us up for an aide for 3 days a week - I'm thrilled to be able to count on a time to run errands and pick up groceries.
I badly need a haircut, that will be a game changer.
I am one-hundred percent SO done with caregiving. I will never take it on again.
It's one thing to help someone you to help out someone care about. Becoming a care slave to them is something else. Never again.
Never again is a smart answer! I bet the majority of people who did hands on caregiving feel this way.
Had I personally taken my inlaws into my home instead of "managing their care" at a nearby nursing home, I would have been in a care slave position and would have resented every minute.
My sister is in a care slave position with my mom and she gets resentful that the rest of us don't jump in to be care slaves along with her. Mom has the money to pay for care, she uses the promise of an inheritance as an incentive to keep my sister chained.
In my situation with my son, wow, now it's heavy demanding sleepless work. Daily walks are out the window, I hope for a chance to take a shower:) But I am not a care slave.
"Care slave" is a great description and should be avoided at all costs.
I will never ever be forced into caring for another individual, nor will I allow my children to be forced into caring for my hubby or myself. There has to be a better way of taking care of the elderly, the ill, and those that are dying from disease that don't harm family members in the process.