Maintaining Relationships While Caregiving

Caregiving demands a lot of time and energy.  It can sometimes leave caregivers with little time or energy to maintain relationships with others who are important in their life.  However it is important to keep these relationships healthy for many reasons, including the fact that other friends and family can help in times of trouble, and can help provide relief from the stresses of caregiving. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Do not try to do everything, you are only human. No one can do everything at once. It’s ok to take a step back and let others aid in the caregiving. Especially if this aid lets you take time off for yourself and your other relationships.
Try to be there for your friends and family, too, oftentimes, we point out that having friends and family to listen to a caregiver’s issues helps with stress. This is true, but remember to provide the same courtesy for your friends. They have their own problems and would like for their friend to be there for them.
Whittle out toxic relationships, with time off caregiving being precious, it’s important to prioritize who to spend that time with. If there are people in your life who are toxic, this can be the opportunity to cut them out. Use the time you would’ve used on them to maintain more positive relationships.
In the end, no one person can do it all alone. Getting professional help for respite care can be invaluable for a caregiver. Remember, we are here to help. Our caregivers can provide aid with tasks of daily living and can provide relief during times of stress.