The Realities of Caregiver Self-Care: Four Essential Tips / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias
The Caregiver's JourneyShow Notes
When you’re caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s or other type of dementia, you’ve probably heard countless times: “Don’t forget to take care of yourself.” While well-intentioned, this advice can feel overwhelming when you’re already juggling multiple responsibilities!
Through our conversation with Elizabeth Miller, we’ve learned that effective self-care is about more than just general advice — it’s about finding practical, sustainable ways to maintain your own wellbeing while caring for others.
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Full Show Notes
Additional Resources Mentioned
Happy Healthy Caregiver website here
20 for 2025 Funsheet here
Self-Care at Sea cruise here
Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast here
Just for You daily journal here
Takeaways
Tip 1: Give Yourself Permission
One of the biggest barriers to self-care is the guilt that comes with taking time for yourself. Many caregivers feel it's selfish to focus on their own needs when their care recipient is struggling.
Tip 2: Think Broadly About Self-Care
Self-care encompasses much more than just physical health. Elizabeth identifies eight key categories:
- Practical self-care (like organizing your desk)
- Emotional self-care (therapy, journaling)
- Social self-care (connecting with others)
- Spiritual self-care (following your spiritual path)
- Intellectual self-care (learning new things)
- Financial self-care (budgeting, planning)
- Professional self-care (career development)
- Physical self-care (exercise, nutrition)
Tip 3: Prioritize and Schedule Self-Care
The best self-care strategy is simply putting it on your calendar. Elizabeth recommends creating a "20 for 25" list—twenty things you want to do this year that bring you joy, energy, or peace of mind. These can range from small activities like learning a new game to bigger plans like taking a vacation.
Tip 4: Give Yourself Credit
Instead of focusing solely on to-do lists, create a "ta-da" list celebrating what you're already doing right. Remember that self-care includes basic activities you're already doing:
- Getting sleep
- Preparing meals
- Basic hygiene
- Managing finances
- Taking breaks
Read More in This Blog here
More from The Caregiver's Journey
When someone gets a diagnosis of dementia, there are two people who need to be cared for: the person living with dementia and you, the primary caregiver.” Nancy Treaster
Do you leave your loved one’s doctor’s appointments feeling intimidated or confused instead of empowered? Do you wish you had a clearer role in shaping their care? Many caregivers feel this way, and there is a better way to approach these visits.
Did your loved one recently receive a diagnosis of dementia? Have you already worked through the first six steps of the Navigating Dementia Caregiving Roadmap? If so, you’ve built a solid foundation, and it’s time to keep going.
“There’s no perfect option out there, and there’s no community that’s going to check every single box.” — Kelly Graffius
"Two words have been the foundation of every decision I made across all of my caregiving roles — safe and happy. Before every choice, I would ask, does this help my loved one be safe? And does this support them being happy?" — Sue Ryan