When your aging parent reaches the point where they need help with the daily tasks of caring for themselves and their home, you become a family caregiver. From helping them shower and get dressed to grocery shopping, cleaning the house and cooking their meals, being a family caregiver takes a lot of time.
Unfortunately, many family caregivers find that their schedules become so busy that they don’t have a lot of time for self-care, such as eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and exercising. If you are a family caregiver that can’t seem to find the time to exercise regularly, you are not alone.
Exercise and Family Caregivers
Medical experts agree that exercise is an important part of staying physically and mentally healthy. However, most adults find it difficult to make time for exercise in today’s hectic world. Family caregivers seem to have even fewer opportunities because taking care of an elderly parent requires a lot of time and energy. Exposure to chronic stress without respite can lead to bad health problems and family caregivers are at a higher risk than most for it.
When they have a few minutes for themselves, most family caregivers don’t make exercise a priority. The bad news is that unless family caregivers get some respite from the stress and routine they have, they can suffer negative health results. Exercise is the best way to reduce stress, lose weight, sleep well, grow strong and stay fit. You can’t be a very good family caregiver if you aren’t caring for yourself as well.
Finding Time to Exercise
There are all kinds of ways to fit exercise into your daily and weekly routine, even as a busy family caregiver. The first method includes exercising during the days you take care of your loved one. With a television or computer, you can participate in aerobics, yoga, dance and strength training right in the living room. If you have exercise equipment, you can spend 30 minutes exercising after getting your aging mom or dad settled in with a good book or movie in the other room.
If you still can’t manage to get some exercise in, consider hiring a home care provider. Professional home care providers can help your elderly parent as often as you need, providing you with some time to attend to other things, including exercise. With a regularly scheduled home care provider, you get the respite you need to get to the gym, go hiking, take a bike ride or attend a swim aerobics class.
Your health and wellness is just as important as your aging mom or dad, and you aren’t selfish or greedy to want to take some time for yourself to exercise. In fact, you‘ll be a better family caregiver when you are healthy and strong. Whether you find time to exercise at home or hire a home care provider for regular breaks, you won’t regret investing in yourself and your physical and mental health by exercising regularly.
Source:
https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/life-balance/info-2017/find-time-for-exercise.html
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE ARE CONSIDERING IN-HOMECARE IN SUMMERLIN, NV, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE. CALL TODAY 702-800-4616.