Tips for Allowing Your Partner to be a Valuable Source of Support During Your Care Journey

s a family caregiver one of the difficulties that you are likely to face is caregiver stress. This comes from feelings of having too much to do and not enough time, energy, or resources to do them, or as if you are facing challenges and care needs that are beyond what you are comfortable doing. Not only is this stress unpleasant, but it can also lead to serious complications for your mental, emotional, and physical health and well-being. Finding effective support is a crucial part of not only handling this stress but keeping you at your best throughout your care journey and on after that journey comes to an end.

There are many ways that you can find this type of support, but one of the best sources that you can rely on is your partner. April is Couple Appreciation Month. This is the ideal time for you to find out how your partner can be a valuable part of your caregiver journey and give you the support that you need throughout this journey.

Use these tips to allow your partner to be a valuable source of support during your care journey with your elderly parent:

• Be honest with them. You cannot expect your partner to know what you are going through or what they can do to help you if you are not honest with them. Sit down with them and describe the efforts that you put forth for your parent and the difficulties that you face so that they know what they can do to help you.
• Let them know what you need. You might think that your partner will know exactly what they can do to help you, but you might find that they do not think of the same things that you do. If you know exactly what you would like for them to do to help you, tell them. If you would rather them handle cooking meals rather than doing laundry, or need them to do carpools for you rather than making phone calls, let them know. Ensuring that the right things are handled will relieve your stress more effectively.
• Spend quality time with them. Getting support from your partner is about more than just having them help you handle some of your care tasks and other responsibilities. Make sure that you are making an effort to spend quality time with them as well. Holding hands, hugs, time relaxing together, and date nights are all valuable for your mental and emotional health, and the continued quality of your relationship.

If you have noticed that your caregiver efforts have become more than you are capable of handling on your own or you believe that your parent would benefit from more or more diversified care than they are currently receiving, now may be the ideal time for you to consider starting home care for them. A care provider is an exceptional addition to your care routine, providing a highly personalized set of services tailored to addressing your loved one’s individual needs, challenges, and limitations while also supporting a greater level of independence, activity, and engagement. This helps your parent live a quality of life that they desire and deserve. In your role as a family caregiver, this can help you to relieve stress, focus your energy and attention more efficiently on your parent as well as the other obligations and responsibilities in your life, and continue to nurture your marriage as well as the relationships you have with the other loved ones in your life.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Harleysville, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860 .