CARE FOR YOURSELF Don’t overlook the impact of caregiving on your own health and wellness. Balancing caregiving with work and other family obligations is often stressful. When asked, caregivers often say the most difficult part of caregiving is the demand on their time. Stress can negatively affect your health, well-being, and ability to provide care. Take time regularly for what’s important to you and get help from others. Caregiving at a distance. Coordinating care when you don’t live in the same community can be time consuming, expensive, and frustrating. The following resources and strategies can help: • Geriatric care managers can guide you through care choices and help monitor the care when you don’t live nearby. They are professionals who can assess an individual’s mental, physical, environmental, and financial conditions and create a care plan to arrange housing, medical, social, and other necessary services. • Technology such as personal emergency response systems (PERS), remote monitoring devices, mobile apps with medical records, and electronic calendar reminders can help you juggle your many tasks as well as provide some peace of mind that your loved one is safe. Organization is essential for the
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