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It doesn’t come as much surprise that caring for the health and well-being of another person affects almost every aspect of your life. You will serve both yourself and your loved one best if you’re prepared for the kind of life-altering commitment you’re making. Just like other major life transitions, becoming a full-time caregiver brings about new schedules, new discovered personal strengths and, especially, new challenges. Knowing what could be down the road you just started walking will help you enjoy the rewards of caregiving and avoid the frustrations and difficulties that could occur.
• Family Dynamics
As caring for your loved one becomes a top priority, your family environment and atmosphere is likely to change as family members take on new responsibilities. Especially if your loved one moves in with you, you and other family members in the house will need to adjust to a new home dynamic that includes your loved one and their illness. Relationships may grow stronger or experience strain as you shift responsibilities. If you are caring for a parent, the reversal of the caregiving role can be unsettling for both of you.
• Finances
Receiving care from a family member rather than a professional may save your loved one a significant amount of money, but it can have a great impact on your own finances. Most adult children of parents who need care aren’t yet retired, and many choose to give up working in order to be a full-time caregiver. In addition, costs of transportation, medical supplies, occasional hired help or defraying medical bills add up as time goes on.
• Physical Health
Caring for a family member can cause all of the features that make up a chronic stress experience, including ongoing mental and physical strain. High levels of stress can wreak havoc on your physical health. Fatigue, poor sleep schedules, poor diet, lack of exercise, high blood pressure and overall exhaustion are all common consequences of caregiver stress. Caregivers often neglect their own health, put off going to the doctor and seldom have the luxury to fully recover from an illness under the demands of caregiving.
• Emotional Health
Being a full-time caregiver will also affect you emotionally. In addition to the stress, many caregivers experience high anxiety and depression. They experience social isolation when caregiving becomes overwhelming and neglect their own emotional health and happiness in exchange for providing their loved one’s care.
Among all the ways caregiving can affect your life, this may be the effect that’s easiest to control, as you can choose how to respond to stress. Caregivers are often encouraged to join support groups to gain guidance and reassurance from others in the same circumstances.
Anticipating changes and preparing to overcome caregiving challenges will benefit you, your family and your loved one as you begin the journey of their care.
At Tuscan Gardens® of Venetia Bay, we’ve mastered the art of living. We’ve perfected the balance of personalized support and an uplifting lifestyle, helping our residents experience independence, joy, and meaning every day.
Offering supportive independent living, assisted living and memory care services for families in Venice, Florida, Tuscan Gardens of Venetia Bay was founded with one simple, yet profound goal – to create a community worthy of our parents. In all we do, we are guided by the principles of family, culture, and engagement, working to represent the remarkable way of life our families deserve.
The essence of our community is made up not only of mere aesthetics but an artfully designed lifestyle to bring out the best of what each day has to offer. From dedicated care that respects residents’ individuality and dignity to a lifestyle that nurtures their love of life, Tuscan Gardens was built to be more than just a residence, but a place to call home.
To learn more about our comfortable, elegant community, contact us today!
