We Can Help You Avoid Caregiver Isolation

Caregiver isolation doesn’t have to be a part of your caregiver experience.

It may seem counterintuitive, but spending all your time taking care of someone else can make you feel extremely alone. The hard truth is that caregiver isolation is very common for a number of reasons:

• Feeling guilty about any time you don’t spend with the person you care for

• Being mentally or physically exhausted: you are simply too drained to want to socialize

• Resentment toward those whose lives seem so much simpler

• And much more

While experiencing the loneliness of caregiving can feel overwhelming, it’s important to take the proper steps to fight back. Social isolation can lead to serious health concerns, such as heart problems, depression, stroke, high blood pressure, and difficulties with attention and memory, just to name a few.

If you’re suffering from caregiver isolation, our home care professionals recommend starting today with implementing one or more of these strategies:

• Be open about how you feel. It’s easy for other people to think you’re too busy providing care to spend time with other people. Let them know you are feeling isolated and lonely and would appreciate some company.

• Begin the day with positivity. The effort this takes can be extreme at first. An excellent way to begin is with fifteen minutes of energy-boosting activity. Make it something satisfying, instead of an additional chore to add to your routine, for example, by jumping on a small trampoline or following along with an upbeat exercise video.

• Pay attention to self-talk. How you speak to yourself can have a major influence on your mood. Pay attention to your thoughts. If they are consistently negative or loaded with anxiety and worry, try intentionally shifting your mindset. Find three positive things to be thankful for and focus on those. When the negativity creeps back in, think about three more. It may take some effort at first, but will quickly become second nature.

• Make connections with new people. It is amazing how such a simple thing as chatting with someone while in the grocery store checkout line can lift your spirits. Offer a compliment, such as how pretty the person’s jacket is, or commiserate on the need to unload your purchases in the cold weather.

• Reach out for a network of support. You may be surprised to discover how many people feel the same as you do. In encouraging and supporting each other, you’ll have the opportunity to make some new friends who can empathize and understand the journey you’re on.

It goes without saying that finding time to socialize on top of fulfilling caregiving duties is not easy. It requires finding a reliable source for respite from your caregiving tasks to enable you to step away and take care of your own needs. Thankfully, Hired Hands Homecare has the perfect home care solution. Contact us online or give us a call at (866) 940-4343 and together we will formulate a plan to ensure the best home care for the older adult you adore, and a healthier life balance for you also. Check our Service Area page to see if we provide care in your area.