American Heart Association has a special website Heart of Caregiving dedicated to caregivers, including caregiver rights, responsibility, reality-check, and resources. Check it out!
As I always stress to my clients, as a "nurturer" or caregiver, you need to practice Intensive Self-Care to ensure your own physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, so you will have more to give and avoid Nurturing Burnout. I've also emphasized the importance of having a support structure, and not being a loner.
The Heart of Caregiving also emphasizes the importance of refresh (carve out time and space for yourself), replenish (eat nutritious foods to beat stress), rejuvenate (physical activities and exercise improve both physical and emotional health), and reach out (good communication with family, friends, healthcare professionals, your employer, other caregivers can provide better support for you as a caregiver).
Check out Heart of Caregiving today, and email this post to anyone you know who is a caregiver.
Also refer to my previous post about Go Red for Women movement, dedicated to support women's heart health.
Labels: caregiver, getting support, healing, health, Intensive Self-Care, stress management
Hueina, I couldn't agree more when I read that you referred to caregivers as nurturers. Thanks for all the great inspiration on your blog!
Sue Lanza
www.nurturingnuggets.com