You might be spending so very much time and energy taking care of your senior family member that you didn’t realize your relationships with other people are suffering. That can lead to big problems for you as a caregiver, so it’s something you need to fix.
Explore Hobbies and Activities You Love
One of the areas in your life that might have taken a back seat could be the hobbies and activities that you love. When that happens, you start to shut down in other ways, too. If you’re having a difficult time reaching out to other people, sometimes it helps to start paying attention to your own hobbies and interests first. This can naturally open some doors to new and existing relationships.
Reassess Your Relationships
Relationships suffer when you’re a caregiver. You may not want them to suffer, but they absolutely do because you’ve got bigger demands on your time and your energy. It may not be realistic to make big plans right now with all of your friends. But what you can do is to reassess how you’re keeping those relationships going. Are you reaching out to the people you care about? Could you be doing so a little more often?
Reach out in the Ways that Fit Your Life
There are lots of ways now to keep in touch with your friends and family and not all of them have to involve sitting down face to face. Video conferencing, text messages, emails, and social media all give you ways to stay in touch with friends and family, knowing what’s going on with their lives, and updating them on your own. Use the tools that work for you and for your relationships.
Look for Ways to Meet New People
Meeting new people can be scary, but as a caregiver, you might find it beneficial. This is especially the case if you find that you and your friends no longer have as much in common as you used to. Doing new things, like attending meetings for caregiver support groups, can be a way to meet other people who very much understand what you’re going through right now.
Take Respite Time
Your reasons for avoiding doing many of the above ideas probably come down to never having enough time. While that’s definitely true for caregivers, that’s not a great reason to avoid your own social needs. Take respite time as much as you’re able to do so. Elder care providers can handle anything that comes up and you truly do need to maintain your relationships and build new ones.
As you venture forth and take better care of your social needs, you’re going to start to see how that helps you to be a more effective caregiver.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Elder Care in Durham, NC please contact the caring staff at Affordable Family Care. Serving Raleigh, Greensboro, and the surrounding areas in North Carolina. Call today 919-676-1070.
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