Top New Year’s Resolutions for Family Providing Senior Care in Chicago IL

New Year’s resolutions: we love to create them, and can’t help but break them. Perhaps you’ve been energized to eat better, lose those stubborn five pounds, quit smoking, or exercise more; but life has a way of interfering with our best intentions, especially for family members providing senior care for a loved one in the Chicago area.

To make a difference in quality of life for both yourself and the senior for whom you provide care, and to discover a New Year’s resolution you’ll actually want to adhere to in the months and years to come, try one of these recommendations from Home & Hearth Caregivers:

1. Be kind to yourself. Recognize the tremendous selflessness required in caring for someone else, and be sure to take care of yourself with regular, small rewards as a thank-you: a favorite treat from the ice cream shop, dinner ordered in, the latest book from your favorite writer, fresh cut flowers, etc.
2. Take time for self-care. Pre-flight emergency instructions stress the need to ensure your oxygen mask is on before assisting somebody else, and this principle is just as true on land as in the air. Caring for yourself allows you to provide the best care for your loved one. So keep regular medical checkups, get lots of rest, and ensure you’re eating a diet that is balanced.
3. Seek out support. Finding a support group for family caregivers, especially one for a particular condition your family member is battling, such as Alzheimer’s disease, lets you know you’re not alone. The Internet provides a plethora of resources for online support groups if going to in-person meetings proves hard.
4. Release thoughts. Providing care for somebody else is often a task wrought with emotions, from fear to anger to frustration to helplessness. It’s important to find a safe and productive release for these feelings, such as through journaling or talking with a trusted friend or counselor.
5. Request help. No man – or caregiver – is an island, and there are often plenty of willing and capable friends, next-door neighbors, along with other family members that would like to offer help, if only they were asked. It’s a sign of strength, not weakness, to accept assistance.

Home & Hearth Caregivers is also available to partner with you with trusted in-home care. Our respite care services provide senior caregivers with aging care professionals that are fully trained and experienced in a variety of aspects of care:

• Personal care, such as bathing and dressing
• House care, such as light housework and laundry
• Companion care, including engaging in conversation, playing games, and participating in hobbies and interests
• And much more, according to each senior’s specific needs

Looking for some inspiration and dedicated senior care support to help you keep your caregiving resolutions in the new year? Contact our Chicago IL senior care providers at 800-349-0663 for a free in-home care assessment to explore how we can share the senior care journey with you – and help you keep your resolve to produce the best care for your senior loved one.