August 30 is National Grief Awareness Day and an annual reminder that we all grieve at some point in our lives. As a caregiver, you are great at caring for someone else as they are grieving. You know how to provide a listening ear, a shoulder to lean on, and support as needed. It’s just one of the many responsibilities and gifts that family caregivers have.
But you are still human and when the loss of a dear loved one occurs that affects both you and the elderly loved one you are caring for deeply, you might be at a loss as to how to care for yourself and your loved one at the same time. No two people grieve the same and finding the right way to balance offering support and guidance to your loved one while still acknowledging your grief may seem like a tightrope too hard to traverse.
Grace is the Key to Balancing Grief
Providing grace toward someone means providing compassion, care, and a willingness to be more tolerant of mistakes or offenses. It’s a time when the person going through a rough period can know that anything they say during that time or any behavior they exhibit will be forgiven. As a caregiver, you already know how to offer grace to your loved one, but do you know how to offer grace to yourself as well? By exhibiting grace to both the grieving of your loved one and you, you’ll help you both to heal faster.
Three Ways to Provide Yourself with More Grace While Grieving
- You may always be the shoulder others lean on, but now is the time to find others’ shoulders for you to lean on. This might be a family member who isn’t so deeply affected by the loss, a friend, or even a support group. Many caregivers find themselves isolated after long years of caring for an aging loved one and they feel like they’ve lost many connections they used to have so a support group might be a good place to start.
- Take care of your physical health. Make sure you get enough sleep, eat foods that nourish your body, and keep physically active. Having a strong body will help you with the emotional stressors that grief can activate.
- Practice Self-Care. When caring for a loved one, providing self-care can be tough when you feel like you have so many responsibilities. You might ask a friend or family member to help by taking care of chores at your elderly loved one’s home so you can spend a bit more time on your own healing process. If you don’t have family or friends who can help, consider hiring a home care assistance provider who can step in and help your loved one around her home.
Home Care Assistance Can Free Your Time to Grieve
Having a home care assistance team come into your loved one’s home to clean, make meals, and take care of pets will allow you to take the time needed to grieve in the ways that are most healthy for you. You will find that once you have practiced a bit of self-care, you will be stronger and better at walking your loved one through the grieving process as well. Providing grace through this process helps you provide grace to others.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care assistance in Frisco, TX, please contact the caring staff at Ray of Sunshine Senior Care today! (940) 310-3105
Ray of Sunshine Senior Care Provides Senior Home Care Services in Denton, Lewisville, Gainesville, Keller, Grapevine, Coppell, Carrollton, Southlake, Valley View, Aubrey, Frisco, Corinth, Argyle, Roanoke, Counties: Denton County, Tarrant County, Collin County, and surrounding areas.
At the same time, she and her husband were faced with the care of his father on the west coast which presented the unique challenges of long-distance care. These events led to a crash course in the senior care industry and her unending dedication to helping seniors and families in similar circumstances. When not working Cynthia enjoys cooking, gardening and traveling with a focus on visiting State and National Parks.
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