We rarely realize how beneficial a caregiver respite is until we’re so exhausted we’re forced to rest. Those of you who have grown wiser, understand the importance of caregiver self-care.
What is a Caregiver Respite?
A caregiver respite is taking time off from caregiving. Each of us has different needs for reenergizing ourselves. For you, it may be meeting friends for lunch, watching a movie, or skydiving. (Okay, may not!) One family caregiver retreated for the day to another room with coffee and lunch while an in-home caregiver looked after her father-in-law. Me? A nice quiet hike in the forest.
Take a Caregiver Respite or Else!
If we don’t take care of ourselves, how can we expect to care for another? Self-care is a sign of self-respect. If we don’t value ourselves enough to take care of ourselves, can we truly be attentive caregivers?
If we don’t take a respite…
we may end up doing some awful and potentially regrettable things. We may even find ourselves facing a judge in court. Depending on the damage, we may have to accept a State-sponsored “vacation” with lodging in a semi-private gated room while eating meals out of metal trays. This is not what we signed up for when we became a caregiver, nor is it the kind of respite we deserve.
We need respite from time to time. We know when we’ve hit the end of our energy reserves. We also know to take a break before we hit empty.
View The Five-Minute Respite on You Tube.
Until robots (machines with cute smiley faces) can serve as compassionately as human caregivers, we need to take regular breaks to replenish our energy. We need to be physically, mentally, and emotionally strong for those who depend upon us for their care.
So, take a respite. Until you do, enjoy this tranquil half-minute at an Alpine Lake in Yosemite National Park (or click/tap to view the video below).
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn6MqNnrvKQ[/embed]
Disclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by healthlydays.
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