Being a primary caregiver is a big responsibility to shoulder. Depending on your situation, it may mean you are currently doing most or even all of the duties of care for a family member. No matter how much you love that person and want to be their caregiver, the work can be taxing. So, stress management is essential to keep going. Below are some stress management tips for caregivers.

- Accept your limitations. A good starting point is to check your mindset. When all the responsibility is on you, it can start to feel like you have to fix everything. But as a caregiver, you cannot fix everything. No time is that more true than when your loved one has a terminal diagnosis. If you keep trying to achieve the impossible, you will get stressed. But if you accept your limitations and set more realistic goals, you are less likely to feel overwhelmed or depleted.
- Take care of your physical health. When you are so focused on supporting another person’s health, it is easy to end up neglecting your own physical needs. You may tell yourself that your needs matter less, because you are not in as dire straits as they are. But your needs are still important. Ensure that you are getting enough sleep each night, that you are eating a healthy diet, that you are staying active, and that you are taking a little time to yourself to relax when you can.
- Break large tasks down into smaller ones. When you are acting as a caregiver and likely also managing someone’s estate, the work ahead of you can seem daunting. Try breaking large tasks down into smaller steps. It can make them more approachable and less stressful.
- Get social support. Sometimes you may need emotional support, or just some time to share some fun and laughter. Don’t neglect your social life. Spend time with other family and friends, even if it’s not a lot. You may be surprised how much it recharges your battery.
- Consider therapy or counselling. Sometimes some of the stress that comes with being a caregiver may stem from adjacent issues in your life. For example, caring for an aging parent or spouse may be challenging if your relationship with them is strained or illnesses are stressing the relationship. Talking with a therapist can help you gain perspective, set boundaries, and manage your stress during this challenging time. You also may want to speak with a grief counsellor if you are experiencing anticipatory grief. This is a type of grief that starts before your loved one passes.
- Accept help from others. If you have a hard time accepting help from others, try and set that aside. If others want to lend a hand, you do not need to be solely responsible for your loved one’s wellbeing, or other task that could add to the stresses and your own well-being. Things will get easier when you let people help. If your loved one is eligible for hospice and is not yet in hospice care, you should also consider helping them enroll. This will immediately remove a lot of work and stress from your plate. And did you know there is a level of hospice care called respite care that is available for caregivers? During respite care, your loved one stays in an in-patient facility for a few days while you rest, recover, and catch up on other things.
Get the Care and Support You and Your Loved One Need
Golden Rule Hospice has locations in Atlanta and Alpharetta and serves the surrounding region. To find out how we can help, please give us a call at (470) 395-6567. We provide routine home care, continuous care, respite care, in-patient care, and an extra level of care called Transitional Care.



