Does your elderly loved one have a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis? If so, you may be wondering how you can cope with and deal with the diagnosis. The disease is difficult on your elderly loved one for sure, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t difficult on you, too. The tips below can help family caregivers to deal with Parkinson’s disease in their elderly loved one.
Acknowledge Feelings
You may be trying to fight your feelings. For example, if you are feeling sad that you can’t provide all the care for your elderly loved one, it might make you feel like you aren’t a good person. That isn’t true. Taking care of someone who has this disease takes a lot of effort, commitment, time, and it takes a toll on you mentally, too. It is okay not to do everything for your elderly loved one. It is okay to hire elder care providers and to get help from other people, as well. By acknowledging your feelings and realizing that you don’t have to do it all, it can help you to better cope with the diagnosis.
Giving Yourself Breaks
As just noted, you don’t have to do it all. Yes, you can help to care for your elderly loved one and do things for them. However, you need to know what your limits are and don’t overdo it. Taking care of someone who has this disease is tough. It is crucial, for your own mental and physical health, that you are giving yourself breaks. This doesn’t just mean take a 10 minute break while you are taking care of your elderly loved one at their house. You need to give yourself time away to relax and to enjoy your own hobbies and passions.
Getting Support for Yourself
You are doing a lot for your elderly loved one. Even if you aren’t there all the time caring for them, just knowing they have Parkinson’s disease can take a real toll on your emotions. It is vital that you are getting support for yourself. There are even support groups you can join for family members of people who have this disease. These support groups can be very beneficial in helping you to understand more about the disease, coping skills, and how to handle the way your relationship will now be with your elderly loved one.
Conclusion
These are some of the Parkinson’s disease care tips for family caregivers. It is important to remember that taking care of your elderly loved one isn’t your only job. You must take care of yourself, as well. When caring for your senior parent with Parkinson’s becomes too overwhelming, remember that elder care providers can step in to provide care for your parent while offering respite to you. Elder care providers offer many different benefits, from meal preparation to medication reminders, all while giving you the peace of mind you need to feel confident stepping away for awhile.
Sources
https://www.parkinson.org/sites/default/files/attachments/Caring_and_Coping.pdf
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20376062