The holidays are often spent making memories with family and engaging in fun activities. But, that doesn’t mean the holiday season comes without challenges.
Caregivers can become overwhelmed and stressed as the holidays approach as it increases their list of responsibilities.
While being a caregiver is rewarding, it can lead to caregiver burnout, which is why Kensington Senior Living Communities are here to help and show their support.
That’s why Kensington Senior Living will host an interactive caregiver workshop.
During this free virtual event, Kensington Family Support Coach Susie Sarkisian offered tips and support to help caregivers take care of themselves during the holidays.
Susie Sarkisian is an expert in listening, coaching, supporting, and validating others. Her experience and skills came from her personal experiences of caring for her father, who had Lewy Body Dementia, helping her mother, who was a caregiver, and becoming a certified Life Coach.
Learn more about how to balance the role of caregiving and self-care, incorporating stress relief methods into your routine, when and how to ask for help, the symptoms of caregiver burnout, and where to find a loving senior living community.
How to balance the role of caregiving and self-care
There is a common misconception that self-care and putting yourself first are selfish.
The truth is, to effectively help and care for others, you must help yourself first. If you’re not mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy, your ability to provide care will decline.
During our workshop, Susie Sarkisian discussed how giving yourself self-love replenishes your soul and helps you flourish as a caregiver.
If you feel exhausted, agitated, and struggle to maintain a healthy diet or exercise, these are signs that your life is out of balance.
It’s always possible to bring balance back by ensuring that you put aside time for yourself when you create your caregiving schedule.
Ways to incorporate methods of stress relief and self-care into your busy routine
It can be difficult to develop a routine that includes self-care, but it’s not impossible.
The best way to incorporate stress relief methods into your busy schedule is to choose hobbies and activities that you enjoy.
Examples of what you can include in your routine:
- Schedule 7-9 hours of sleep
- Maintain a healthy diet
- Exercise
- Yoga
- Meditation or prayer
- Reading
- Journaling or coloring
- A date night with your spouse
- Coffee or lunch with a friend
What you decide to add to your schedule will depend on your interests and what you love to do.
Kensington Senior Living understands how essential life-enrichment activities, a well-balanced diet, and exercise are, which is why we offer these services to our residents.
When to ask for help caregiving, and how to not be afraid of doing it
Asking for help can feel intimidating and scary, but you don’t need to be alone in your caregiver journey.
With the help of family, friends, and care partners, caregiving for your loved one can be easier and more comfortable than doing it alone.
Let other family members know when you’re feeling overwhelmed or can’t keep up with the many demands of your loved one.
Reaching out for help doesn’t mean you have failed, it means that you have met your limit and you recognize that help can improve your and your loved one’s health and quality of life.
If your family is unsure of what they can do to help, create a list of tasks you need help with and ask what they can help with.
Some ideas you can add to your list include:
- Helping with meals
- Helping with chores
- Picking up medications
- Shopping for groceries
- Sitting with your loved one while you take a break
- Taking your loved one to events or appointments
When caregiving becomes too much: signs and symptoms of burnout
It’s likely that your mind and body will tell you when you’ve reached your limitations.
You may have difficulty accepting that you need a break or support and assume you will feel better in time, but ignoring your feelings and needs will not help you or your loved one.
The best way to help you and your loved one is to reach out for help immediately when you begin experiencing the following symptoms.
The longer you let things go, the more damage you will do to your health.
Common signs of caregiver burnout include:
- Exhaustion
- Irritability
- Anxiety and depression
- Eating too much or not enough
- A weakened immune system
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Physical pain
- Not doing the things you love
- Feeling hopeless and helpless
Our workshop will help you overcome caregiver burnout by teaching you how to make time for yourself, how to recall old hobbies and passions, and how to get through the holidays.
How Kensington Senior Living devotes care to benefit both seniors and their family caregivers
Kensington Senior Living offers assisted living and memory care communities with highly experienced and dedicated professionals.
We understand how challenging it can be to ask for help or transition your loved one to a senior living community, which is why we offer the best services and support caregivers as well.
We want to help you, and your loved one live a high quality of life.
Kensington Senior Living offers these resources for caregivers:
- An informative blog with tips and support
- Educational and uplifting events
- Kensington Konnect which is filled with entertaining and fun ideas
- Caregiver Connect
- A Kensington Spouse Group
Kensington Senior Living, partners in caregiving
As your partners in care we have made it Our Promise to love and care for your loved one as we do our own family.
Our enhanced assisted living and memory care communities offer the best amenities and services to help our residents truly age in place.
We want our residents to enjoy where they live, feel safe and comfortable, and improve their health and well-being.
We do this by offering our residents:
- A full-spectrum of clinical support
- 24-hour support and care
- Life-Enrichment activities
- Rehabilitation services
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Heath and wellness programs
- Exquisite dining services
- Cozy rooms with various floor plans
Contact us to learn more about our communities and upcoming events.