No one wants to admit that a loved one isn’t as healthy as they once were. Whether it’s their physical health declining with sicknesses, broken bones, or the frailty that comes with age, it’s not easy to see someone who taught you to be strong not feel as strong as they once were. On the other side of things, it’s also extremely difficult to watch your loved one’s mental health struggle. They may forget your name, where they are, and why they are having someone else help them in their home or in a home they don’t recognize. It’s a hard adjustment, but there are coping mechanisms that can help.
We want to reiterate that it is important to take care of yourself during these times of adjustment. This might sound like you aren’t putting your loved one first, but trust us, it is. Just like if an airplane ride hits turbulence, it’s important to adjust your own oxygen before helping others put on theirs. You need to be mentally, emotionally, and physically strong to help your loved one adjust to these changes. That includes taking some “you” time and making sure you are able to be the strong one in the relationship when it might not have always been that way.
Taking care of yourself and having “you” time doesn’t just mean taking an occasional bubble bath and having some time to yourself, it means surrounding yourself with resources you need. This includes getting friends that are going through similar changes that can share experiences with you. You don’t necessarily need to go to a support group (you can if you want), but you do need to have support systems set up to help you on hard days.
It’s also important to have a good relationships with those who are taking care of your loved ones. At Caring Hearts In Home Care we understand how important it is to be in the loop. We like to keep constant contact with our client’s families (at a frequency you let us know you prefer) so there are no surprises and there is a strong and steady relationship there for you to ask questions or address concerns.