Senior Care & Dealing with Depression

Caregiving and Depression

Caregiving and depression seem an unlikely duo, but it happens all the time. While in the process of providing exceptional care to others, many caregivers fail to provide themselves with proper care. How can such a situation develop? Providing proper care for others is oftentimes all-consuming, especially if the person receiving the care suffers from Alzheimer’s or is incontinent.

If you are an otherwise healthy and capable person but lately you’ve not been acting “right,” the stress of your job may be taking a toll. Depression may be setting in, especially if you find yourself crying for no apparent reason, and/or feeling tired, angry, frustrated, anxious, or alone. Pay attention to these feelings; they’ll likely get worse if you don’t take action.

Here are some tips for avoiding the depression that often accompanies caregiving:

Make Time for Yourself

Caregivers rarely take time for themselves. If you’re not taking time to rest, eat well and exercise moderately, you will suffer. Maybe not today or next week, but it will happen. It really doesn’t take long to plan and prepare nutritionally-balanced meals and snacks. Doing so gives your body the fuel it needs to perform all the tasks you ask of it. You’ve got to get uninterrupted rest, too. And as for exercise, everything counts. You don’t need to work out at a gym for an hour a day. Get exercise any way you can: gardening, housekeeping, going up and down stairs, walking the aisles of the grocery store, playing your favorite sport, even pushing a wheelchair can get your heart beating and your blood flowing.

Pace Yourself

Do what you can, when you can. It may help to prioritize your caregiving duties. Focus on those daily tasks that absolutely must get done. Schedule the other tasks when you have time. Once you start to prioritize your work, you’ll notice that you actually get more accomplished. Prioritizing allows you to focus on one thing at a time, rather than putting your hands into multiple projects, none of which ever seem to get finished.

Ask for Help

Caregivers often feel they are alone, whether or not they truly are. There are many reasons why caregivers don’t seek assistance. But those reasons won’t help with your situation so put them away. Talk the need for help over with other family members, and together, figure out when others can come in so you can have a break. If you have no family members, you’ve got to hire in-home help, or make arrangements at a senior day care facility. Do whatever it takes to get time off. YOUR health depends on this.

Put a Moratorium on Guilt

No one gains from feeling guilty. In fact, guilt is an immobilizing emotion. Let it go and you’ll feel better instantly.

Have Some Fun

Keep social events on your calendar and your health will benefit. Get out to the movies, have coffee and a gripe session – do whatever it is that you enjoy – in the company of others.