How to Care for Yourself While Caring for Others...

One quarter of adults are presently caring for an aging parent or relative, with close to half (45%) of this group providing care for their spouse. The person responsible for providing this care is called the family caregiver. In most cases, the family caregiver is a spouse, the eldest daughter or the grown child who lives the closest to the parent(s) or other family member needing care.

While family caregiving is often very rewarding and a bonding experience, it can also be stressful and cause tension within families. According to a new survey by Home Instead Senior Care, 31% of family caregivers admit they'd like more help, and 25% resent other family members who don't help out more.

Family caregiving can also become stressful if the caregiver has other important and pressing responsibilities, including a job, children to care for, a busy social life, some distance to travel to care for an elderly relative and so on. In fact, caregiving can be particularly hard for a spouse, especially when the care recipient requires around-the-clock assistance. It can even become dangerous if the spousal caregiver has his/her own health issues to deal with, since these health problems are often exacerbated by the stress and lack of attention to their own needs.

Please use this informative Web site to find ways to cope with caregiver stress, in order to make your family caregiving role more rewarding. A caregiver who takes care of herself or himself - body and mind - will ultimately be a better caregiver to a loved one.