When you are a family caregiver for your elderly parent, it is easy to feel as though all of your energy and attention should go to your senior and their needs. This is especially true if they are living with a serious health issue such as cancer. It is important, however, to remember that taking care of yourself is critical not just to preserve your own health and well-being, but also to ensure that you are the best quality caregiver for your aging parent. One of the best and most effective ways that you can accomplish this is by seeking out support after your parent’s cancer diagnosis.
Home Care Services Aventura FL – Seeking Support After Your Parent’s Cancer Diagnosis
Use these tips to help you seek support after your parent’s cancer diagnosis to make sure that both of you are getting the care you need during this difficult time:
Rely on your partner. Your partner can be your greatest source of support and care for you in your personal life. It is easy to get wrapped up in all of the tasks that you need to complete and start to think of your partner only as someone who can help you with these. Instead, seek emotional support, strength, and encouragement in them and let them help you feel confident as you work through this new chapter.
Talk to friends. Maintaining your friendships is extremely important when you are a family caregiver. These friendships keep you mentally and emotionally stimulated, ease stress, and keep you connected to your identity and life beyond your caregiver experience. Be willing to talk to your friends about the diagnosis and what you are feeling. Let them give you comfort and reassurance, while also providing a “light at the end of the tunnel”.
Seek out a support group. A group of others who are going through something similar with a loved one can be tremendously comforting for you as you cope with your parent’s diagnosis. This group can help you to feel less alone and also to get valuable advice and guidance while giving you a safe place to express your thoughts, emotions, and concerns.
Starting home care services for your aging parent can be one of the best decisions that you make for them in the course of your caregiver journey with them. A home care services provider can be in the home with your aging parent on a fully customized schedule to ensure that they have access to the level of care, support, and assistance they need to manage their individual needs, challenges, and limitations.
This highly personalized care is specifically designed to manage these issues in the way that is right for your parent so that they are able to enjoy a higher quality of life as they age in place. This can include safe and reliable transportation, assistance with personal care tasks such as bathing or toileting, grocery shopping and running errands, meal preparation, and help keeping the home neat and healthy.
