A Caregiver’s
Bill of Rights (pdf file)
Caregiver Self-Health
Stress Management
How to Find and Evaluate Health Information
Accessing Assistance
The ability to provide continuous care and support for an elderly loved
one depends on the sustained health and well-being of the caregiver.
All too often caregivers exert so much time and energy to care for
their loved one that they neglect to maintain the activities that promote
their personal health and emotional well-being.
The physical and emotional stress that results from providing care
places the caregiver at increased risk of developing significant health
problems, threatening their ability to continue to care for their loved
one. Caregivers should take good care of themselves. This includes:
- getting adequate amounts of sleep on a regular basis
- eating a balanced diet
- getting regular exercise (also helps with stress reduction)
- having regular medical examinations (be sure to discuss with your
doctor the effects of caregiving on you - both physically and emotionally)
- taking advantage of social and emotional support
- scheduling time for respite, reflection, and relaxation
Family and friends may offer help to allow you time to focus
on your personal health. The The Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh can help you locate and access community services available
to assist with care for you and your loved one.
Caregiver Self-Health
Caregiver
Self-Assessment Questionnaire
Published by the American Medical Association
Taking
Care of YOU: Self-Care for Family Caregivers
Published by the Family Caregiver Alliance of the National Center on
Caregiving
Common Caregiver Health
Problems
Once you identify your health care needs, the Aging Institute can help you find a physician or access other health care
services for you and your loved one.
How to Find and Evaluate Health Information
To assist you in locating credible and reliable health information,
the Institute suggests the following links:
How
to Find Medical Information
Published by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and
Skin Diseases
10
Things to Know About Evaluating Medical Resources on the Web
Published by the National Center for Complementary Medicine, one of
27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health
(NIH)
Accessing Assistance
Contact us for assistance with self-health
management, or e-mail
us your questions.
Many of our documents are available in PDF format. To read PDF files, Adobe Acrobat
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Acrobat Reader (free version).
