Take My Hand At Home

At Home Care

  • Home
  • Services
  • Resources
  • In-Home Assessments
  • Blog
  • Employment
  • Contact
  • Client Login

Top 3 caregiving tips for spouses

March 7, 2017 By Take My Hand

Caring for a spouse can provide tender and enjoyable moments. It can also be an immense challenge.

Based on our experience as a licensed caregiving company in Whatcom County, here are three tips for making the best of caring for a loved one:

  1. Choose to see the situation for what it is. It can be easy for spousal caregivers to focus on negatives and play the “what if” game. Instead, choose to be positive, to be realistic. Take a step back, assess the situation and find opportunities to be thankful. Getting to spend extra time with your spouse, for one thing, is a treasure ― even if you don’t always feel that way.

Tip: When you’re feeling less than positive, chatting with another person in your situation can sometimes make a difference. Northwest Adult Day Health, for example, offers a Caregiver Connection group in Lynden, and local senior centers often offer support groups for caregivers. A five-minute phone call to a friend or family member also can be an immense help.

  1. Find ways to enjoy the time together. What do you both love? Maybe it’s listening to music, going for walks, watching a baseball game or planting geraniums. Scheduling time each day for activities that you both enjoy can help remind both of you how much fun life can be with a partner.

Tip: Take time for yourself, too, to do what you love. Read a book, cook a special dinner, work on a crossword puzzle… Even if you feel you don’t have much time in your day to relax, a few minutes here and there can help.

  1. Take extended breaks. When a few minutes’ rest isn’t enough, schedule a longer break. Caring for a spouse can be a 24/7 job, but it doesn’t have to be. Find someone who can give you periodic breaks to rest, recharge and step out of the house.

Tip: Two eight-hour breaks each week can help. Regular, scheduled time off allows caregivers to rest from the pressure of caregiving and to get some other tasks done.

The licensed caregivers at Take My Hand At-Home Care offer a wide array of respite services for Whatcom County caregivers. Give us a call today to learn more about the benefits of hiring a caregiver for spousal respite. (And ask us what else we can do to help, such as make dinner or handle light housekeeping while you are taking a break.) Take My Hand also offers overnight care, for those times when you need to be away or just need a full night’s sleep.

We are here to help!

 

Filed Under: Aging in place, Caregiving, Long-term care, Resources for caregivers Tagged With: Aging-In-Place, at-home care, caregiving at home, Lynden eldercare

Recent posts

  • How to spot cognitive decline in a loved one
  • How to practice thankfulness — and how it can improve your life
  • Does your elderly loved one need a healthcare advocate?
  • ADUs can be part of cost-effective option for eldercare
  • Should I take my parent out of assisted living during COVID-19?

Post categories

How to spot cognitive decline in a loved one

Cognitive lapses are fairly common among older adults, with subjective cognitive decline affecting roughly one in nine people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s natural to be concerned that a loved one might experience dementia, Alzheimer’s or a similar brain decline in older age. How can you tell whether cognitive decline might be happening to someone you know … [Read More...]

ABOUT US

Sue Sorensen became involved with Whatcom County eldercare and aging-in-place services in 2009. She launched Take My Hand At-Home Care in January 2012 … Read More...

  • Home
  • Services
  • Resources
  • In-Home Assessments
  • Blog
  • Employment
  • Contact
  • Client Login

Recent Posts

  • How to spot cognitive decline in a loved one
  • How to practice thankfulness — and how it can improve your life
  • Does your elderly loved one need a healthcare advocate?
  • ADUs can be part of cost-effective option for eldercare
  • Should I take my parent out of assisted living during COVID-19?

Contact US

Phone: 360-543-5777
Fax: 360-255-7564
info@takemyhandathome.com*
*If you need immediate assistance for a loved one please contact us by phone.

 

  • LinkedIn

Copyright © 2021 · Log in