Skip the Caregiver Guilt When Striving to be the Best Caregiver

You know that in order to take the best care of your loved one, you must first take care of yourself. But that doesn’t mean you won’t feel a little guilty now and then when you think you’re being selfish. We want to help you get past that guilt.

Our in-home care providers at Qualicare San Diego understand that guilt can be associated with self-care for a caregiver. Therefore, we want you to know that it’s OK to not feel guilty about caring for yourself”and we can help you carve out that necessary time for yourself.

Remove the Guilt by Allowing Our In-Home Care Providers to Help!

Remember, our 360 degree approach to home care isn’t just for your loved one. It’s for the caregiver, too! Allow our team to help ease some of the caregiving responsibilities off your plate and give you the time you need.

Let’s look at some other ways you can help alleviate that guilty feeling when it comes to taking time for yourself.

First, remember that you need to care for yourself in order to help better care for your loved one. When you ignore your own needs, you are more likely to suffer from caregiver burnout. Therefore, when the feelings of guilt come on, remind yourself that you are not just taking care of yourself for you, but you are also doing it so you can be a better caregiver for your loved one.

Second, work through your guilt. If you’re starting to feel guilty about going to an appointment or taking time for exercise, then accept that the guilt is there because you love your loved one so much. But in the same breath, remember that breaks are vitally important for your physical and mental health.

Finally, change the way you view your self-care time. Instead of feeling as though you aren’t giving your loved one what he or she needs, realize that you are doing this for you and your loved one.

With any job, if you are burned out, you aren’t going to be able to give the amount of energy necessary to perform your job well. The same is true when you are a caregiver. If you are burned out and overstressed, you are not going to be able to provide the quality care your loved one needs. Therefore, you shouldn’t feel guilty about doing something that benefits both you and your loved one in the long run.

While guilt is a very familiar feeling as a caregiver, it’s important to remind yourself that caregivers need a break, too. Call our Qualicare team today to learn how our team of in-home care providers can help.

We pair each patient with a caregiver that’s specific to his or her individual and family needs. Visit the Qualicare San Diego website today to learn more.