Caregivers in Houston, TX
Those who provide elder care at home for aging loved ones are at greater risk for a whole host of their own medical maladies, according to much of the recent research done on the subject. These conditions range from depression and anxiety to weight gain and associated illnesses, to simply having a lowered immune system from stress. Great nutrition, a consistent fitness routine, and stress management are the keys to combating the caretaker blues, but finding the time to create healthy routines can be a struggle. Here are some strategies to help you care for yourself, so you can provide better in-home care for your loved one.​
Don’t Overthink It
Exercise need not be complex or time consuming. Even taking a brisk fifteen-minute walk every day can have a significant impact on your stress level and health. Avoid the mental trap of thinking you need a gym membership to keep atop your fitness – gyms can be a costly and time-consuming burden. It’s harder to justify taking an hour or more to gather gym clothes, travel to and from the gym and spend time there working out than it is to steal a quick ten-minute cardio routine with a few simple supplies at home. Do include some cardio and some strength training for the best results.
Start Slow & Build Up
You don’t need to dive into an intense daily workout, particularly if you aren’t very active now. Start slow and build up your endurance, strength, and fitness level. Even small steps, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator and parking a little further from the door, can add up. Over time, aim for three or more weekly workouts with 30 continuous minutes of moderate intensity. If you aren’t there yet, be content with 10 minutes at a level you that’s challenging but not overwhelming.
Create Goals and Provide Incentive
Fitness goals are hard to stick to when our lives are bustling with activity. To keep yourself in check, create short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals to keep yourself on track. A good short term goal would be something like one fifteen minute walk three times this week, where as a good medium term goal would be to increase your fitness minutes by ten minutes each week for two months until you reach the desired level. A great long term goal would be managing two sets of ten push-ups. 82-year-old Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg includes that in her routine, if she can do it, so can you! When you achieve a goal, give yourself a treat.
Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2791523/ – First link
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.492.7287&rep=rep1&type=pdf – Second link
Inspiration: http://www.aarp.org/home-family/caregiving/info-2014/caregiving-find-time-for-exercise.html
If you or an aging loved one are considering in-home caregivers in Houston, TX, please call the caring staff at At Your Side Home Care. We will answer all of your senior care questions. Call today: (832) 271-1600
Our Certified Nurse Aides, 24-Hour Live-in Assistants and Home Health Aides are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide the security and confidence of 24-hour Telephone Assistance, so fast, reliable help is always available when it's needed. To learn more about our homecare services see our homecare services page.
Different people need different levels of homecare. To meet the requirements of our clients, At Your Side Homecare maintains consistent staffing levels of caring professionals. Homecare service is available for as little as a few hours a week, or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week
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