Caregiver in Garner NC
Do you ever wish that your doctor would write you a prescription for a vacation? If you are a family caregiver for an elderly adult and you find yourself experiencing the high levels of stress and anxiety that are common among adult children who have taken on this role with their aging parents, this might not be the worst idea. While you might not be able to convince your doctor to actually hand over that prescription, prescribing a vacation to yourself, and getting started planning that vacation, can be extremely beneficial in relieving your stress and helping you to manage it more effectively throughout your care experience.
According to research, people who take annual vacations are at as much as 30 percent less chance of dying from cardiovascular disease, even among those who are at increased risk for this disease and its complications. A large part of this is the fact that just planning a vacation eases your stress and produces a sense of calm and wellbeing. When you sit down to plan a vacation, you are letting yourself think about something that you enjoy, something that is for you. If you are like many adult children who care for their aging parents, thinking about yourself may not be something that you do frequently, which means that when you actually do it, it can feel amazing and produce exceptional results.
Planning a vacation is also about giving yourself something to look forward to, and being able to use that little “light at the end of the tunnel” to guide you through challenging times that you face during your care experience. Get an idea of the benefits with this experiment. Place an ice cube in your hand and hold it as tightly as you can for as long as you can. Make sure that you pay attention to how long you are holding it and how you are feeling as time is passing. When you have to let go, note how long you held it and how difficult it was. Now put an ice cube in your other hand and tell yourself that you get to let go in thirty seconds. At the end of those thirty seconds you are likely to notice how much easier that was than just holding the ice with no end in sight. That is because when you have an idea of when relief will come it is easier to handle difficulty.
The same applies to planning a vacation. Having that little getaway planned, whether it is something you are doing completely on your own, with your partner, or with your entire family, means that you have something to look forward to when you start to feel the stress overwhelming you. Take a little bit of time each day to work on your plans for your vacation. Choose the destination that you want to visit, explore different hotel options, find out all about the activities and recreation that is available so you can decide what you want to do, and even start thinking about your wardrobe. Just a few minutes a day thinking about your much-deserved break will keep your mind stronger, healthier, and better focused on being the best caregiver you can be for your aging parent.
If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Garner, NC or the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at HomeChoice Home Care Services. Call today (919) 847-5622