Caregivers, Take Good-Care of Yourself

10 WAYS TO COPE WITH CAREGIVING
1. GET REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
It’s a good energizer, reduces stress, helps control blood pressure and cholesterol and helps maintain a healthy weight. Start by walking 15 minutes a day, even if it’s just around the yard.
2. EAT HEART-HEALTHY FOODS.
They give you more energy, combat depression and help prevent health problems.
3. TAKE TIME EVERY DAY TO DO SOMETHING THAT YOU ENJOY.
Read, listen to music, do crafts, cook—whatever makes you happy and relaxes you.
4. KEEP HUMOR IN YOUR LIFE.
Laughter is good medicine. It quickens the pulse rate, stimulates blood circulation, activates muscles, increases oxygen intake and fosters relaxation. And remember, laughter is contagious!
5. GET OUT ONCE A WEEK.
Go to a coffee shop, attend events in your community or at your house of worship, take a class or visit a friend. Ask for help if your loved one needs constant attention.
6. TREAT DEPRESSION AND STRESS.
Recognize signs and symptoms. When they start to occur, do something about them. Get help. Talk it out. Admit your feelings.
7. TAKE CARE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
Keep your checkbook balanced, work when you need to spend time with friends and family and deep planning for the future.
8. KEEP ALL MEDICAL AND DENTAL APPOINTMENTS.
If you’re sick, you won’t be able to do what you need to do for your loved one. Ask for help when you need to get away and take care of your health.
9. THINK POSITIVE.
Refresh your mind every day. Admit your limitations. Pat yourself on the back for the job you’re doing. If you’re feeling guilty or angry, it’s time to take a break.
10. STAY CONNECTED WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
Don’t isolate yourself. Stay in touch, even if it’s just by phone or online. Talk about something other than your situation and maintain an interest in the world outside your caregiving role.
Source: American Heart Association and American Stroke Association.
Published in Heart Insight - August 2007
Take good care of yourself. The Jesuits believed in keeping their cup full as the best way to enable them to help others.
Poetry is a wonderful source of strength. It can strengthen your soul, gladden your heart and give meaning to the things we do and the reasons for doing them.
My Favorite is:

DESIDERATA
Amid the noise and haste remember the PEACE one finds in SILENCE. Be GRACIOUS in disagreement. CALM in Discord and GENTLE to people of lesser station.
Speak your TRUTH quietly, not loudly. Let caution in your business not blind you to the virtues in others. Whatever LOVE you give make certain it be TRUE. Feigned affection is worse than a curse. Forego the impulse of your YOUTH and take the counsel of your YEARS. Keep interested in your CAREER no matter how humble. Nurture your SPIRIT for sudden misfortune, fatigue and loneliness breed FEAR — So, beyond a healthy discipline, be gentle to yourself and keep peace with all persons, above all with your SOUL. You have a RIGHT to belong, no less than the trees. Whatever you conceive GOD to be, be at peace with HIM.
DESPITE of all its drudgery and broken dreams
THIS is still a beautiful WORLD and
HAPPINESS is yours if you strive for it.
FROM TEXT DATED 1692 IN
OLD ST. PAUL’S CHURCH IN BALTIMORE, MD.

In spite of all I say, remember humans are not perfect. So if you do not meet your own standards every day — remember to forgive yourself, and try to do better tomorrow.
A beloved friend and a member of the original foursome in tennis always finished her conversation by saying, "Have a nice day and an even better tomorrow." Liz Murray
Stan Kent
stanbcgb@roadrunner.com

Caregivers Support Groups

The American Heart Association (1-800-AHA-USA1, www.americanheart.org/caregiver) realizing the tremendous strain put on caregivers, has given input on ways to deal with this special problem. This is a site you may want to access because it helps you find a balance between taking care of someone else and taking care of yourself. In the Senior Tennis League we have seen the strain felt by those trying to help family members, friends and tending to a loved one. Often times they become emotionally physically and emotionally depleted. The site also provides information on caregiver and patient resources.
The Mended Hearts, Inc. (1-800-HEART99) or www.mendedhearts.org also provides support for the emotional aspects of recovering from heart-related illness. There are some 260 chapters nationwide; the Albany, NY chapter is dedicated to heart transplant recipients.
American Association of Retired Persons (1-202-434-3525) www.aarp.orgl includes information on caregiving under the "Family, Home and Legal" tab.
CareFinder (1-800-272-3900) www.alz.org/carefinder is a web site sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association, the interactive Care-Finder tool can be used by anyone who needs help with finding and coordinating care, as well as information on support and resources.
Family Caregiver Alliance (415-434-3388 or 800-445-8106) www.caregiver.org provides caregiver support and educational opportunities through research, advocacy, legal consultation and training workshops.
Family Caregiving 101 www.familycaregiving101.org provides new ideas and helpful advice for you and your loved one who is chronically ill or disabled.
Heartmates (612-558-3331) provides resources for the spouse, family and loved ones of a heart patient.
National Alliance for Caregiving www.caregiving.org has an E-mail: infor@caregiving.org and provides support to family caregivers and the professionals who help them.
National Family Caregivers Association (1-800-896-3650) www.thefamilycaregiver.org A free membership offered to caregivers, who can then receive a newsletter, resource referrals and other benefits.
Visiting Nurse Associations of America (888-866-8773) www.vnaa.org The VNA chapter in your area can point you to home healthcare services that can give a caregiver some much needed time off.
The Well Spouse Association (800-838-0879) www.wellspouse.org is a non-profit group providing support and advocacy for spouses and children of people who are chronically ill.
As you know, I have prayed, these many years, for the "caregivers" because of the need our society has for loved ones who can only face the prospect of warehousing without the loving care of a family member, friend, neighbor or other concerned members of the community. I hope that this list obtained from an article in "HEART INSIGHT") August 2007, will help them in some small way to understand the need to balance their lives so that they may remain healthy and able.

Many of you may know that Julie is an administrative assistant at Millard-Gates Circle and is involved in both "Pastoral Care" and "Volunteer Services." She is an avid reader and provides me with some very important articles of interest to many in our group. Julie A. Tronolone is a caregiver to her 93-year-old mother and is a thoughtful, loving and helpful person. We have many caregivers in our group who have felt the strain they put upon themselves. In giving so much they often place themselves at risk.

Caregivers are so important in a country that has lost its way and puts more emphasis on military might than the health and wellness of its own. And now we have an ever-increasing number of soldiers who need the help of their families to help put their lives back together.
God bless and keep you well and may God allow His healing hand to touch you and your loved ones.
Stan Kent
stanbcgb@roadrunner.com
Julie A. Tronolone
july04th@roadrunner.com