The Importance of a Caregivers Health

Your loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and you step up or are thrust into being their caregiver. Their health journey becomes yours. It can become all consuming.

If you had children, people would chuckle and say the mom or sympathetic dad were "eating for 2." You are once again eating, drinking, making doctors appointments, and taking meds for 2 when you care so intimately for another human being living with Alzheimer's disease. Our own health can get pushed to the back burner, or go out the window entirely, when we are wrapped up in caring for someone else.

Like mother, like daughter

I noticed that my mom was behind on her doctors appointments when she was caring for my dad years ago. The first thing I did when she came to live with us was to get her caught up on all the doctors from head to toe, neurology to podiatry, and everything in between. We caregivers think of others and are last to think of ourselves.

Every Sunday night, I put my mom's week worth of pills in her pill boxes for the morning and evening, and another one for meal times. What about mine? When I noticed that I was not sure if I had taken my own meds and vitamins, I started my own pill box. It isn't as involved, but now I can keep tabs (pun intended) on my own pill popping.

I have a few prescriptions, plus I need my vitamins for all the stress I'm under and my over-all physical health, as well as to balance out the PopTarts I'm also taking for my mental health.

It occurred to me, as I knelt in front of my mom as she sat on the "throne" and I changed her pull-up, I was so glad I could still crouch. My knees were still good.

A number of years ago, my husband and I jumped on the 10,000-steps bandwagon. It has served us well, even now, little did I know at the time. I have realized that taking care of myself is taking care of her!

I have had to catch my mom as she stumbled in a parking lot, our front walk, and in the shower. I am glad I still have good reflexes and some upper body strength to catch her, or we would both go down!

Without me?

The importance of self care, not just for myself, hit home to me after I had been out on my daily scheduled "me-fun-errand-break time." When I got home, I was met by a frantic husband. I was at my favorite thrift store, which must be lined with lead because I get no cell service except by the socks and wallets.

He was worried something had happened to me since he couldn't reach me. He couldn't imagine what they would all do without me! He demanded that I take care of myself and that nothing happen to me. They would be lost without me!

The importance of your own health as a caregiver

Taking care of yourself isn't selfish. It makes you the best caregiver for all of your loved ones. You need to take care of yourself from top to bottom and from the inside out: mentally, emotionally, physically, socially, and spiritually. You are a whole person, even as this disease tears you apart.

The physical demands of caregiving surprise me. I need to be in shape! If you are looking for a reason to start moving, improve your diet (except for the occasional toaster pastry), stop smoking, stop scrolling on social media before bed instead of sleeping, here it is. Are you caught up with your own eye exams, doctors appointments, meds, and health goals? Your future self and your loved ones today will thank you.

What is one thing you can do today to improve your own health?