According to the American Psychological Association, over 40 million people provide informal care to seniors and 90 percent of these are related to the one receiving the care.

Caring for an elderly loved one can be a rewarding and challenging experience at the same time. While special caregiving skills are needed, the challenges are amplified when the senior family member has a serious illness.

Besides, caregivers providing long-term care at home tend to feel isolated, depressed, stressed, and anxious.

Here are some senior care advice and tips for caregivers to navigate these challenges and achieve the best possible outcomes for the loved one and for yourself:

Senior care advice

• Establish a sleep routine: Having consistent bedtimes and waking up times will benefit the elderly’s overall health and mood. This also provides a structure to each day and makes it easy to follow the schedule the rest of the day. With a defined sleep routine, your elderly loved one can get the recommended hours of sleep each night.

• Keep mealtimes consistent: Well-timed meals can help in digestion, prevent low blood sugar levels, fatigue, and acidity. Eating at fixed intervals will also enable your elderly loved one to take medications on time.

• Factor in enjoyable activities: Based on your elderly loved one’s interests, include an enjoyable activity every day. This could range from walking the dog, gardening, playing cards, doing crosswords, or going to a park. It can be the same activity every day or you can schedule different activities throughout the week.

• Be flexible: While adhering to a schedule is important, ensure it is not a rigid one. Unexpected things such as changes in weather, mood swings, or other factors can sometimes derail the routine. Create a back-up plan by making a list of possible disruptions, and stay on track as much as possible the rest of the day.

• Modify the schedule: The daily routine needs to meet your loved one’s needs while also accommodating your needs. If something is not working for either of you, make it suitable by changing it. You may also need to modify the schedule when there are changes in your elderly loved one’s health, weather changes, or changes in their interests.

• Make the home safe: Remove clutter and throw rugs that can cause slips and falls. Ensure electrical cords are out of the way and include brighter lighting around sunken areas, furniture, bathroom, and below the stairs. Raised toilets, grab bars, and handrails in the stairways, bathroom, and in the bedroom can help optimize your loved one’s safety.

• Communicate: Be kind, patient, and compassionate when talking to your elderly loved one. Make eye contact when you talk, touch them on the shoulder and listen carefully when they are talking.

Tips to avoid caregiver burnout

Informal caregivers including friends and family members are the backbone of senior care provided in their homes. While some elements of caregiving are rewarding, caregivers are at increased risk for experiencing negative health consequences. From difficulty in leading a healthy lifestyle, depression fatigue to stress, caregivers can face multiple challenges.

A survey found that a whopping 66.6 percent of caregivers experienced at least one behavioral or mental health symptom a month before the survey was administered.

Eventually, this leads to ‘caregiver burnout,’ a state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion.

If you are a caregiver to a senior, here are some ways to take care of your own health and avoid burnout:

• Take routine breaks – Try to get at least 30 minutes of break time to take a walk, meditate, read a book or just go outside. Carving out some me-time every day without feeling guilty can actually make you a better caregiver.

• Exercise regularly – Whether an hour of yoga, a long walk, a bike ride, or a swim, there are many ways to be active and enjoy the activity. You can also exercise along with your loved ones by walking with them, stretching with them, or doing chair yoga.

• Eat healthy meals and snacks – Ensure your meals and snacks are nutritious and energizing to help you maintain your energy levels. Include plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, lean proteins, and dairy to get the micro and macronutrients you need.

• Prioritize sleep – Lack of sleep can exacerbate stress and anxiety while depleting your energy reserve. Some tips to improve your sleep hygiene include going to bed at a defined time, avoiding screens, bright lights, and caffeine, optimizing your room temperature, and taking a hot bath.

• Use relaxation techniques –Prayer, mindfulness, progressive muscle relaxation, and meditation can help you relieve stress, unclutter your mind and help relax.

• Seek social support – The best way to beat the feelings of isolation is to connect with your family and friends who you trust. Make time each week or twice a week to talk to your friends and family who can offer unconditional emotional support.

• Don’t aim for perfection – While you naturally want to do your best, you can end up feeling guilty sometimes when you think you are falling short. Instead, focus on what you are doing right and remind yourself that no caregiver is perfect.

• Set realistic goals – Break up large tasks into smaller ones and prioritize these tasks. Focus on one task at a time and set a daily routine. Say no to emotionally or physically draining requests such as hosting a party or lengthy commutes.

• Accept help – Delegate as many tasks to others as possible. For instance, a friend can take the senior person on a walk, or a family member can clean, cook or pick up groceries. Caregiving services right from meal delivery, housekeeping to transportation may be available in your area.

• Connect with a support group – A caregiver support group provides encouragement and problem-solving strategies that you can use to navigate difficult situations. You can also create meaningful friendships by joining a support group.

• See your doctor – Apart from regular health screenings, vaccinations, and consultations, you can discuss any of your health concerns with your doctor. Ensure you tell your doctor that you are a caregiver.

Enhance your loved one’s comfort at Tampa senior home care

An ideal way to get expert assistance in taking care of your elderly loved one is to avail the services of the best senior home care Tampa has on offer. As the leading provider of Tampa senior home care, No Place Like HomeCare serves your loved one in the comfort of your home. From free in-home assessments to assistance with personal care and ADLs, the reputed senior home care Tampa families rely on offers its expertise to optimize your loved one’s and your health.