Tips for the Sandwich Generation On Managing Caregiver Stress

There are currently 24 million Americans caring for children and aging parents simultaneously, according to a Pew Research report.

This so-called “Sandwich Generation” is made up of increasingly younger boomers and Gen Xers as the senior population continues to soar.

The challenges that the Sandwich Generation face include committing most of their time and energy to their children, career, and caregiving. Unfortunately, they often dedicate little time to caring for themselves. The stress that builds up over time in such a situation can really take a toll on a caregiver’s life.

If you’re part of the Sandwich Generation, don’t underestimate the importance of taking the time to de-stress. Huffington Post’s Sherri Snelling even recommends acting childish: “Playing outside, being silly and laughing with friends and acting carefree may actually benefit caregiver health,” she writes.

Below are 5 tips for caregivers on awakening their inner child and taking some time to de-stress, adapted from Snelling:

  • Nap time: We’ve all heard that getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night is important to our overall health. If you’re not getting the necessary sleep at night, plan out routine times to nap and go to bed, as if you were a nine-year-old again.
  • Bath time: Kids shouldn’t be the only ones who get to enjoy a nice night. Start thinking of baths as a health necessity, not a nice option. While taking a bath every day may not be possible, set aside as little as 10 minutes to bathe three days a week for some good stress relief.
  • Outdoor fun and sun: Sunshine, and the Vitamin D it provides, is proven to reduce the risk of conditions like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cancer, allergies, and osteoporosis. It also boosts mental health. As little as 10 minutes of sunshine a day is all you need to start reaping the benefits.
  • Hop, skip, jump: We all have fond memories of running around outside as kids. There’s no reason you shouldn’t still have that much fun as an adult! Grab your kids and play some games at the park, or take the dog for a brisk walk. You’ll find these simple activities (which are all free) will boost your mood and physical health significantly.
  • Daydream: You had the right idea when you were a child by lying in the grass and looking up at the clouds in the sky. Now that you’re an adult, taking a few minutes each week to daydream can do wonders in reducing stress. One rule though: No TV, music, cell phones, or other distractions.

Can you think of any other ways that you can awaken your inner child to reduce caregiver stress? Let us know on Twitter or in the comments.

Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of geriatric care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. Get your free Cost Comparison guide by clicking here. Or contact us for a free consultation or just to say hello!

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“Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living solves the challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit http://www.private-duty.pchhc.com.”


Caregiving: Avoiding Sibling ConflictsBy adulthood, most sibling relationships have developed into unbreakable friendships that are as substantial as they are fulfilling.

Still, many people have the tendency to revert to childhood rivalries and pettiness when it comes to the care needs of aging parents. Quibbles surrounding money–your parents’ finances and their caregiving expenses, specifically–are most common. Conflicts are also common regarding family possessions, your parents’ continued independence (or lack thereof), and medical decisions.

In other situations, as AARP’s Sally Abrams points out, caregiving may be very one-sided, with one sibling begrudgingly taking on more than his or her fair share of responsibilities.

In these situations, it’s important to take a step back and seriously analyze the problem at hand. Abrams recommends asking your the following questions when (and before) things start to get sticky:

What do your parents want? While they’re still in good health, ask your parents what they expect to happen when they need regular care. Are they being realistic? Are there any aspects they aren’t addressing (i.e., the specific needs of a chronic condition)?

Do you agree with what your parents want? If so, great. If not, what are you willing to do to work something out that will satisfy them? This could mean hiring a home health care provider, or finding another solution to give the entire family reassurance that your parents are okay.

Set up a family meeting to discuss each family member’s role in caregiving, from finances, to day-to-day care, to long-distance caregiving. A meeting in-person is best.

What are your and your siblings’ strengths? Are you tech savvy, while your sibling is better at hands-on activities? Find out who’s best at what to help map out your parents’ care plan.

Who will be the primary caregiver? The primary caregiver means the person who is going to be there at your parents’ side day-by-day. This person is also the primary contact for the rest of the family. Once you determine who the primary caregiver will be, make sure that the other siblings are doing what they can to take any pressure off of him or her.

Are your sibling’s perspectives valid? When a disagreement arises, listen to your sibling and why they feel the way they do.

What kind of relationship do you want with your sibling? Ill will and bad communication can destroy once-strong family relationships. Is that what you really want? Chances are, probably not, so always be delicate in these sorts of situations.

Coming to terms with an aging loved one’s health problems is a difficult and often emotionally-taxing experience. When this experience is shared with siblings and other close family, you won’t always see eye-to-eye when it comes to financial matters or your parents’ day-to-day care needs.

You have to remember: family is family, so doing a little bit of prep work before things get crazy can go a long way towards ensuring that everyone is content with their role. And of course, help and advice is always available through a senior care provider such as Physicians Choice Private Duty.

Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of geriatric care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. Get your free Cost Comparison guide by clicking here. Or contact us for a free consultation or just to say hello!


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“Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living solves the challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit http://www.private-duty.pchhc.com.”

 


seniors dont take their heath seriouslyA new survey conducted by the National Council on Aging, UnitedHealthcare, and USA Today surveyed 4,000 adults to get a clear view of American seniors perspectives on aging.

While many of the results aren’t surprising–most seniors are committed to maintaing a high quality of life–some results seem to be contradictory. For example, 60% of seniors expect to maintain their current health for the next five to 10 years, yet 65% are living with two or more chronic health conditions.

Below are some of the key findings from the survey.

  • 40% of seniors believe that staying connected to friends and family is the most important element to maintaining a high quality of life.
  • 30% believe that having financial means is the most important element to maintaining a high quality of life during their senior years.
  • The survey found that seniors who focus on taking care of their health are more optimistic about aging.
  • 64% of the aforementioned optimistic seniors have set one or more specific health goals in the past year, in contrast to 47% of the senior population who have no such health goals.
  • 71% of seniors feel that their community is responsive to their needs, but only 49% feel that their community is prepared for the future needs of the growing senior population.
  • Likewise, 70% stated that they were not encouraged by health care providers to attend community programs aimed at promoting senior health.

Overall, there is reason to be concerned. Although most seniors are optimistic about their overall health, many are not taking the necessary steps to maintain or improve their current health, or to properly manage a chronic condition. Forbes even goes so far as to say that our seniors are living in la-la land.

In the long run, the lax attitude of seniors towards their health could lead to the rest of us paying the price in the form of Medicare costs and time/money from family caregivers. The best thing we can do is to have a heart-to-heart talk with our aging parents and loved ones about the reality of aging, stressing the importance of proactively treating any health problems as they arise.

Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living–currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa–provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of geriatric care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. Get your free Cost Comparison guide by clicking here. Or contact us for a free consultation or just to say hello!

“Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living solves the challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit http://www.private-duty.pchhc.com.”