Caregiver Brooklyn NY
When you are a family caregiver, your relationship with your loved one who you are caregiving for is a very important one. For many caregivers, this relationship can take a majority of your time and effort and become the top priority. This is especially true if they depend on you for many things such as transportation, cooking, maintaining the house, bathing, and more. While it is always a great idea to nurture this important relationship, it is also important to still maintain the other important relationships in your life. When you have strong relationships with your spouse, friends, and children, you will feel more supported as a caregiver and less likely to feel stress and depression. So, even if you feel that you are very busy each week, it is still important to take time and foster these other important relationships in your life. Staying close and staying connected doesn’t always have to be difficult.
Read on for some helpful tips for nurturing the important relationships in your life.
Maintaining a Great Relationship with your Spouse:
- Schedule in time each week to be alone together without distractions. Eat a meal out or just take some time at night to converse. Watching T.V., using smartphones, or reading on a tablet may be things you both enjoy, but communicating is essential for any strong relationship.
- Remind your spouse that you love and care about them, too. If you spend a lot of your energy on caregiving, they may feel left out or ignored, so it is important for you to express your feelings for them.
Maintaining a Healthy Friendship:
- Even if you don’t consider yourself a social butterfly, having a trusted friend is important. Try to make time to catch up with your close friends over the phone or in person, if you are able to.
- Talking to a friend can be a great way to get emotions off of your chest, but be sure that you are a good listener, too. Be a good friend by giving them support and encouragement when they need it.
Maintaining Healthy Relationships with Your Children
- Whether your children are young or grown, they need you to be there for them. Even if your schedule is hectic, make time each week to spend with them talking or doing an activity that they enjoy.
- If your children feel left out, consider involving them in caregiving. Even younger children can be a big help when it comes to caring for an elderly loved one.