Hey, Care Partner! Are You Taking Care of You?

The term “self-care” has become a buzzword that, to some, can be viewed as a nice word for “selfishness.” As it relates to care partners, nothing could be further from the truth. Self-care is vital to the success of anyone meeting the physical and emotional demands of caring for a loved one living with dementia. A better term may be “self-compassion.” This expresses the importance of pursuing activities that nourish your well-being and being kind to yourself as you provide the best care possible for your family member. Here are a few suggestions you may want to consider.

Start by giving yourself credit for the challenging, complex work of caregiving. No one is perfect, so accept that fact and do your best to provide a safe, nurturing environment. You will face tasks, demands, and challenges you were not trained for every day. As well as the emotional toll your relationship with your loved one will take on you. No one is prepared for either role. Acknowledge this and find ways to be kind to yourself.

Many care partners neglect this critical aspect and continue to listen to their inner voice telling them how badly they are handling the current situation. They believe this harsh criticism and try harder to be the perfect care partner—an impossible task for anyone. Studies have found that many family care partners become ill and can no longer provide care. Many go on to die before the care recipient. This is one of the reasons self-care is so important. You don’t need to lose yourself completely, but find ways, even small ways, to care for yourself.