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4 Tips For Long-Distance Caregivers

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Being a local caregiver is already a demanding situation: being a long-distance caregiver even more so. If you already have long drives for work, errands, and other appointments, being a long-distance caregiver can be especially difficult. Here are 4 tips for long-distance caregivers to make your life a little easier.

Create A Local Caregiver Team

You can’t always be there to give care when you are a long-distance caregiver. In addition, you can’t do it alone. Having some local caregivers to help out is crucial in your role as a long-distance caregiver. This can be done by keeping in touch with local agencies, neighbors, yard service members, house cleaners, and more. 

Be Realistic About What You Can And Can’t Do

This goes along with your local caregiving team. You can’t fulfill every role, so being realistic about what you can and can’t do is important. If you aren’t realistic about what you’re able to do, you will end up not giving the quality care you’re aiming for. If you focus on the tasks that can be done long-distance, you’ll find you can still be a vital part of the caregiving process. This can include things like handling finances, scheduling appointments, calling doctors, and more.

Make The Most Of Each Visit

Since you can’t be there all the time, making the most of each visit is very important. First and foremost, make sure your visits are fun and full of love. That is why you do what you do. In addition, make sure to check for any work that needs to be done while you’re there. Leaky faucets, yard work, and so on. You can also use this time to meet any local caregivers and service providers, such as neighbors, yard care workers, and more. Checking in with them will also help make the most of each visit. 

Stay Connected

Just because you’re a long-distance caregiver doesn’t mean you can’t stay connected. Regular phone calls or face-time calls make a huge difference in staying connected. This is great for keeping spirits high. Other ways to stay connected can be scheduling phone meetings with doctors, calling neighbors to check in, and more. You might not live right next to each other, but it does not have to always feel that way.

The Perfect Place For Your Loved One

Do you have a loved one in need of assisted living? Courtyard Manor promises you the peace of mind you deserve. We guarantee safety and compassion you can’t find anywhere else. Our goal is to see a smile on your loved one’s face, every day. Contact us today for a free assessment.

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4 Self Care Tips For Caregivers

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Being a caregiver is not an easy task. Caring for someone else’s life and putting their needs before your own can be overwhelming, especially if you were suddenly thrust into the position of caregiver. This is why self care is so important for the caregivers themselves. If you aren’t taking care of yourself, it can become more difficult to take care of someone else. Here are 4 self care tips for caregivers.

Don’t Be Afraid To Say No

This is at the top of the list because it is one of the hardest to do. As a caregiver, you may find it comes naturally for you to say “yes” to everything asked of you. It’s in your nature to help others as much and as often as possible. However, sometimes you need to say no: and that can include turning down invites to fun things that you’d even like to attend! You might occasionally need a night of alone time just to recharge, and that’s fine.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help

This is another one that can be daunting. Do you find yourself piling on responsibilities so you don’t inconvenience others? Perhaps you think you’d be a bother to ask others for help. However, this can quickly take a toll on you and cause burnout. Your friends and loved ones are there for you, and chances are they would be happy to help you. Even if it’s just something small, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Get Enough Rest

Easier said than done, right? However, getting proper rest is essential for your role as a caregiver. Having a routine sleep schedule can be a great help to staying properly rested. Avoiding naps during the day will also help you sleep easier at night so you can more easily develop a healthy sleep schedule.

Find A Therapist

In an ideal world, everyone would have a therapist. But caregivers especially need a professional they can talk to. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Finding a therapist doesn’t mean you have “failed” or that you are weak. Quite the opposite: it means you are strong enough to know your limits. Caregiving day in and day out means putting others before yourself. Having professional help makes this journey easier on you. Even if it’s just to have a licensed professional there to listen, it makes a big difference.

Peace Of Mind For Assisted Living

Do you have a loved one in need of assisted living? Courtyard Manor promises you the peace of mind you deserve. We guarantee safety and quality of life you can’t find anywhere else. Our goal is to see a smile on your loved one’s face, every day. Contact us today for a free assessment.