Caregiving is one of the most important and reward rolls you can have in life, but the strain (left unmanaged) can take a heavy toll. If you are a caregiving spouse between the ages of 66 and 96 and are experiencing mental or emotional strain, you have a risk of dying that is 63 percent higher than that of people your age who are not caregivers. The combination of loss, prolonged stress, the physical demands of caregiving, and the biological vulnerabilities that come with age place you at risk for significant health problems as well as an earlier death.  

However, despite these risks, family caregivers of any age are less likely than non-caregivers to practice preventive healthcare and self-care behaviors. Regardless of age, sex, and race and ethnicity, caregivers report problems attending to their own health and well-being while managing caregiving responsibilities. Caregivers report regular problems with sleep deprivation, poor eating habits, failure to exercise, failure to stay in bed when ill, and postponement of or failure to make medical appointments for themselves.  

So, let’s disrupt that pattern. Today’s episode is all about caregiver self-care. 

Email Tina: tina@joyshouse.org  

Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org