| Resources
For Caregivers
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Sources for Health
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Taking Care of Yourself As a caregiver you have a responsibility to yourself as well as the person that you are caring for. Looking after your own health and well being will keep you strong and help you maintain emotional resilience. If your own health begins to suffer, you will not be able to help either your relative or yourself. Here are a few tips to help you maintain your own health and wellness. Aim for fitness. Strive to be physically active each day and to maintain a healthy weight. Regular physical activity in addition to a healthy diet give people of all ages the ability to enjoy life and to feel and do their best. Try to find time to get regular exercise away from home. This will provide you with a physical and mental release. Exercise classes, swimming, walking and biking are just a few suggestions. Talk with friends and family to share ideas on exercise that you can do together. Diet - If you are busy caring for someone you may be tempted to skip meals and exist on convenience foods. Find ways to enjoy a meal; invite a friend or relative over to share a meal, as well as some company. Do not hesitate to ask a friend or group of friends to contribute a dish to the meal. They will understand that you are busy and they will welcome the opportunity to help you. Build a healthy base. Choose a variety of grains daily, especially whole grains. Foods like wheat, rice, and oats contain vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and other substances that are important for good health. Also choose a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. Choosing different kinds of fruits and vegetables assures you of getting essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other important nutrients your body needs. Keep foods safe to eat. Always wash hands before handling foods. Only use clean utensils and surfaces when preparing foods. Separate raw, cooked, and ready-to-eat foods whether shopping, preparing, or storing. Keep hot foods higher than 140 degrees fahrenheit and cold foods at 40 degrees fahrenheit or below. Foods left for more than 2 hours between these two temperatures should not be eaten. Remember to refrigerate perishable foods immediately and when in doubt, throw it out. For a wealth of food safety information, click here. Choose sensibly. Maintain a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Stay away from animal fats, hard margarines, and partially hydrogenated shortenings. Use vegetable oils instead. Choose fat-free or low-fat dairy products. Opt for fish and lean meats and poultry, and have them grilled instead of fried. Take it easy on foods high in sugar and salt. Sleep. Be sure to get enough sleep. It will help you to avoid stress. If the person that you are caring for makes it difficult to get any quality rest, try sleeping when they do and avoid caffeine before going to bed. Stress. Avoid using alcohol, tobacco products and junk food as a way to deal with stress. Take a walk when you need a break or call a supportive friend to talk with. |
Common Reasons You May Experience Anger and Guilt:
How to Cope
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