-Treat depression: see a therapist and consider taking an anti-depressant
-Get yearly physicals and appropriate tests: cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, mammogram, prostate, colonoscopy, etc
2. Plan Ahead, Organize, Pace Yourself: Give yourself plenty of time to plan a vacation, but be careful not to take on more than you can manage. Make lists of things that must be done before the trip, and secondary lists of things you would like to accomplish if possible. Be sure to set strict limits with yourself and others of what you can and cannot do.
3. Ask For Help: Don’t wait for others to ask what they can do to help. Instead, ask everyone to pick the tasks from your list that they feel comfortable with. In addition to the list of caregiving and household chores, include vacation-planning tasks such as:
-Take the car in for service, cleaning, tire rotation
-Get maps/brochures of vacation destinations
-Make itineraries, check availabilities
-Get reservations/tickets
-Stock up on groceries/cook meals ahead for the freezer
-Refill medications, stock up on supplies
-Call agencies and interview caregivers and facilities for respite care
-Make a schedule with details of all duties for the caregiver(s)
-Organize back-up help
-Distribute an emergency plan with contact information to everyone
4. Be Positive: Having a vacation to look forward to will help you feel less deprived of a normal life. Be aware that having fun, laughing, and focusing on pleasurable things, rather than ill health, will help to keep you in emotional balance. The break will recharge your batteries.
5. Use Adult Day Care: Enrolling elderly loved ones in Adult Day Care is often the very best thing for them. They’ll be busy enjoying activities like: singing, crafts, cooking, gardening and bingo with professionals who know how to motivate and manage them, helping them focus less on your absence.
6. Seek Professional Help to Cope: Numerous resources are available to help caregivers. Consider hiring a Geriatric Care Manager, who can personally guide you through the complicated maze of eldercare. Also, many faith-based organizations offer support to family caregivers.
