We typically associate the role of carer with patience, compassion and kindness. However, while these traits may be accurate, they don’t negate the fact that caring for a loved one can significantly impact you mentally, emotionally and physically.
Often, carers from a range of backgrounds and ages become unpaid support systems to family or friends suffering from various ailments. In many instances, one of the most common conditions requiring Australians to become carers is incontinence.
Incontinence impacts numerous Australians, but it is more challenging to provide the proper care. Therefore, as a carer, you need to find ways to manage the condition more practically while finding time to see to and cope with your physical, emotional and mental well-being. So, one of your priorities when first undertaking this role is equipping yourself with the right tools to handle the carer’s emotional load of incontinence management.
How Can You Reduce the Emotional Load of Being A Carer?
It takes a lot to provide adequate care to someone with incontinence. Consequently, you may discover that you are putting so much energy into caring and giving so much that you have little left for yourself at the end of the day. If this state of affairs goes on for a while, it may adversely affect your health- and have a detrimental outcome for you and your loved one.
As a result, it is important to evaluate and consider your emotional load of care. Once you establish a baseline, you can develop strategies to help provide adequate care while preserving your health. Therefore, here are a few ideas that may help you alleviate some of the emotional load of caring:
- Get out and about -it may not always be easy to leave home as caring responsibilities can keep you indoors for extended periods. However, continuing to explore hobbies, interests, and recreational activities that interest you is crucial. Therefore, you must have a regular personal schedule that enables you to participate in an outing with friends or even indulge in some solo activity.
- Know you aren’t alone – numerous Australians are now carers. Today, approximately 1 in every 11 Australians provides care for a friend or loved one. Hence, seeking out and talking to others going through similar experiences may be beneficial. In doing so, you may avoid the common pitfalls of caring, including becoming isolated and losing out on valuable connections. Interacting with other carers allows you to rely on others with whom you share common ground for support and encouragement.
- Stay healthy and look after yourself – as you provide care, so should you care for yourself. This sentiment means that even as you give your best towards meeting your charge’s needs, you have to leave some for yourself. This is not a selfish mentality. On the contrary, eating healthy meals, making time for regular exercise and getting enough sleep are surefire methods of protecting yourself from the adverse effects of long-term caring.
Remember that aeroplane emergency procedures admonish you to care for yourself first before aiding someone else. This sentiment is neither selfish nor restricted to aircraft situations. When you are a carer, a lot is required of you, so you must be diligent in recharging your mental, physical and emotional reserves to ensure that you can extend your best to the one who needs it.