Like a severe tropical storm, being under the weather can shatter a caregiver. You can find yourself in a washout mentally and physically, even taking the strongest of caregivers out for the count. It is imperative to pace yourself and be willing to bear disappointment or you’ll find yourself flat on your back, maybe even hospitalized.
Caring for my father, who had Alzheimer’s disease, I learned that honoring this obligation can leave you exhausted. Anyone who doesn’t realize this hasn’t a clue how much self-discipline is involved in caregiving. These are just a few examples:
• Vastly limited social life
• Little or no private time
• Giving up your favorite hobbies
• Unable to attend church services
The list goes on and on. It is a known fact that stress can kill. Don’t let it conquer you. Stand tall. Your health is the key to everything. If you go down, the ship you’re navigating will soon become the Titanic, heading straight to the bottom. Being the primary caregiver means you have to attempt to be indestructible, but remember, that doesn’t imply that you have to be a super-hero.
Remain consistent with your own doctor visits. I went almost two years without a physician’s examination. Look at it as a day out. I know it’s not the most enjoyable thing to be doing with your infrequent free time, but at least you’ll likely get an hour to yourself while waiting in the examination room.
Also, try to busy yourself with doing something physical for about 30 minutes a day. Maybe some yard work or going for a walk. Try killing two birds with one stone. As for myself, I would mow the grass. It was kind of a sanctuary for me. The grass beneath my kitchen window is trimmed to a neat cemetery style half-inch. This is from cruising by constantly looking in to make sure Dad was still playing solitaire at the dinner table.
If you can’t leave your patient alone, place him or her in a lounge chair in the shade. But, keep in mind, a trip to the gym is another way of a two-in-one score: physical exercise enhanced with some socializing.
One of the most difficult things about caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, is never really getting a good night’s sleep. Have you ever heard the expression, sleeping with one eye open? Well, it isn’t a easy thing to accomplish but, as a caregiver, you may find it necessary to do just that! Actually, I learned to sleep with one eye one ear open.
I know that when I was caring for my dad, my bedtime consisted of more napping then an actual night’s sleep. I would be constantly listening to see if he was moving around, worrying about what chaos he might get himself into. After many years of this I naturally became a light sleeper. It took me eleven months after my father’s passing, before I slept through an entire night. I found myself tossing and turning, stuck in the habit of being concerned about him nocturnally.
Everyone needs sleep, and dealing with the additional stress of being a caregiver, the human body will require even more. It is a well-known fact that sleep is essential to maintaining good health. You can only skimp on sleep for a short period of time before major compilations start setting in. Going without enough rest for extended lengths of time will cause a variety of drastic conditions to develop, such as weight gain, irritability, depression and other mental and physical disorders.
When your patient’s symptoms begins to move forward, sleep deprivation will become a more frequent problem. Fatigue will creep up to the point where you can’t even see straight. Accompanying headaches and body pains could last for days.
There were times when I would call my sister so she could come sit with our father so I could just sleep; and the fact I knew I didn’t have to worry about him would let me get some of the soundest sleep I’d had in weeks.
When you’re exhausted, mistakes are easily made and being a caregiver you could commit an error that could be disastrous!
You must learn to ask for help. You need someone who can pitch in. If you have a nearby relative don’t take no for an answer. You can’t go without sleeping. Everything will certainly fall apart and then there will be two people in desire need of help.
The main point here is that you’re indispensable. If you stall out there will be one heck of a traffic jam. Keep your oil changed and don’t miss those scheduled tune-ups, otherwise the next sound you hear may be the mixture of metal and hydraulics as you’re being towed away.