Self-help for caregivers

By PhiladelphiaHealth.com writers. Not doctor reviewed. Read disclaimer.

Are you tending for someone in need -- such as a elderly or disabled relative or spouse in the home, a friend or neighbor, or someone in hospice care?

If so, you're not alone. Most of us will be called on to perform unpaid caregiver responsibilities at some point in our lives -- whether that might involve helping another with their shopping or cleaning, handling their finances, monitoring their medication schedule, or providing what we may consider to be "traditional" caregiver tasks such as helping with bathing, cooking and dressing.

On top of this, more than half of all unpaid caregivers perform those tasks while holding down a "regular" job.

Caregivers can be unsung angels of mercy for those in need -- but their own needs can too often be ignored. Researchers have identified several factors that can cause caregiver stress:

• feeling isolated: losing social, emotional, financial or practical support
• feeling overwhelmed: when caregivers are expected to do too much or have health problems of their own
• feeling guilty when mistakes are made or being less than "perfect"
• feeling unappreciated (or resentful) when the person being cared for doesn't respond (or improve) as we'd like

For your own well-being as a caregiver, it's important to take good care of yourself while you do the same for someone else. Medical experts offer these steps to help:

Steps for caregivers' self-health

1. Stay on schedule with your own medical needs: checkups,screenings and tests.
2. Say "no" when too much is requested or demanded of you.
3. Organize your work with to-do lists. (This can not only help you to get more done, but it can be rewarding to check off tasks and look back to see how much you accomplish.)
4. Maintain healthy eating habits -- for your sake, and your loved one's.
5. Get plenty of rest. Short naps, when possible, can be big energy boosts.
6. Stay active. Enjoy any kind of physical activity at least 15-30 minutes per day: walking, gardening, cleaning or just going up and down stairs can help.
7. Manage stress. Giving yourself time to relax is an important part of self-care.
8. Realize that you do not need to be the "perfect" caregiver. No one is perfect. All that can be expected of you is that you do your best.

When you think about it today, be sure to take time for yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Caregiver's Bill of Rights

Caregivers have rights, too. These affirmations (author unknown) may comfort and support you while you do the same for your loved one.

• I have the right to take care of myself. I have the right to seek help from others.
• I have the right to maintain parts of my life that do not include the person I care for.
• I have the right to get angry, be depressed and express difficult feelings once in a while.
• I have the right to reject any attempt to control me through guilt or anger.
• I have the right to consideration, affection, forgiveness and acceptance.
• I have the right to take pride in what I'm doing.
• I have the right to protect my individuality.

Sources:
http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/caregiver-stress.cfm

Want to prevent a cold or the flu?
Gargling with water may help

Kyoto, Japan - Regular gargling with water may help protect against upper respiratory infections in healthy people, researchers from Kyoto University School of Public Health reported in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Scientists recruited 387 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 to 65 and followed them for 60 days during the cold and flu season. Participants were assigned to water gargling, diluted topical disinfectant gargling and non-gargling groups (volunteers in the gargle groups were asked to gargle three times a day).

Those who gargled three times a day were over 30% less likely to contract upper respiratory infections. Those who gargled and contracted infections reported that gargling helped ease the symptoms.

Low-grade inflammation at a young age associated with lower intelligence

Stockholm, Sweden - Inflammation - it's the body's normal body response to injury (burns, cuts, breaks or exhaustive exercise) as well as foreign invaders (tobacco smoke, allergies, toxins, medicines, diseases, alcohol, viruses, parasites, bacteria, pollution, a diet rich in saturated fats - even splinters, dust and debris). It is critical to our healing and protective processes but, when it becomes chronic it becomes destructive.

Medical conditions believed to be linked to chronic inflammation include Alzheimer's disease, asthma, some cancers, chronic pain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Now, we may have to add lower intelligence to that list.

According to research reported in Brain, Behavior and Immunity, inflammation is associated with lower intelligence for those as young as 18 years of age.

Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden used data on 49,321 Swedish males aged 18-20 who had registered for military service in 1969-1970. Using IQ test results and a measurement of inflammation, they found that low-grade inflammation affected cognitive (mental) ability even in those as young as 18-20.

Scientists explored mortality rates between 1971-2006 and also found an association between inflammation and premature death risk.

Personal Name*
E-mail*
Website
Comments*
	Comments are moderated. Please expect a delay.