Health Tip: Alleviate Caregiver Stress
When you're a caregiver, you have a lot of responsibilities in managing someone else's health and personal matters. But it's very important not to neglect your own well being.
The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to help prevent caregiver stress:
- Accept that you can't do everything.
- Stay organized in your personal life. Set schedules to take care of your personal priorities and responsibilities.
- Don't neglect your health. Get regular medical checkups.
- Make sure you get enough sleep and regular exercise.
- Eat healthy, and don't load up on junk food.
- Give yourself a break. Call on friends and family members who are willing to help when needed.
Health Tip: Lifting Safety for Caregivers
If you are caring for an ill or injured loved one, you could be at risk for serious injury yourself if your daily routine includes a lot of heavy lifting.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions for caregivers to help prevent injury:
When lifting a person or heavy object:
- Keep your head and neck in line with your spine.
- Don't force your spine into awkward positions, and avoid bending at the waist.
- Don't twist yourself when lifting or carrying.
- Hold the loved one or object close to your body.
- Don't stand with your feet too close together. Keep them about the width of your shoulders apart.
- Lift with your legs, not your back.
- If the person or object is too heavy to lift, ask someone else for help.
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