This is a collaborative post and therefore doesn’t necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the blog or its owner
We all have the same battle in life, the one of time. For those parents who have special needs children, the struggle is all too real. The needs of the child will forever be a weight on the parents’ shoulders, and as they age, the common issues start creeping. From health problems to physical problems, or any sort of decline, we all have to deal with these issues. For those that have children who rely on them to do everything, or for those that are in a position of care, stress is a very real emotion. And it’s not just about the day-to-day care, thoughts turn to how you can look after them as you get older, but what happens to you after you go? This is a big worry everywhere, and it seems that now there are siblings being tasked with looking after the people that are in need. Not just those to special needs, but also those that have parents who struggle to be mobile. For anybody reading this, providing for those that are in dire need encompasses many different factors. And while it’s not right to say they will all be covered here, here is a collection of ideas for you to take on board to make sure that you look after yourself, look after the ones you love that are in need, but also how to get the support that you and your loved ones need.
Financial Concerns
This is the top of the worry pile for everybody, and when you are concerned about providing for someone who needs constant care, the money needs to be almost never-ending. Sometimes, depending on where you live, you can feel like you don’t have many options. In this respect, it’s always important for you to undertake the necessary research to find out exactly what you can claim for, in terms of financial benefits, but also in relation to the healthcare aspects that you are required to pay for. A site like https://www.gomedigap.com/ relates specifically to the American healthcare system, namely Medicare, but it breaks down the appropriate cover and the costs associated with it. So, based on your affordability, you can pay for the best possible health care for you, and your family. In addition to health care, some benefits can help the person in question if you didn’t have the capacity to keep earning, or if you passed away. A Special Needs Trust is one of those things that is a way for you to provide for the person if you were to pass away. In addition to this, you can fund this trust with what is called a last-to-die insurance policy. On top of this, it’s always beneficial to keep your ear to the ground for new findings that may crop up from time to time. We all have financial concerns, but don’t feel that you are alone and without support.
Avoiding Burnout
We all cope in our own individual way when it comes to stress. Caring for anyone does a lot to increase that stress. That feeling that you don’t get a break, either mentally or physically, is a very common sensation among carers. It’s this that causes tension between you and your partner, but also you and everybody else! Because you’re in such a unique situation, you can feel that it’s you against the world on occasion. You can feel that nobody understands exactly what you’re going through, and to the extent, that is true. It is very difficult, especially when you have a child with special needs, and you take them out, and you get looks from people. This causes a major conflict of emotions in you, from anger all the way through to tolerance. And tolerance has a positive and a negative effect. Of course, you don’t want people to look upon your flesh and blood as an oddity, but it’s important to remember that these people have no concept of what is different. Of course, in looking after your child for so long, you know this deep down, but the conflict still bubbles within you. And this is a prominent example of emotions that you need to learn to deal with, so you can avoid excessive and unnecessary stress. Burnout is something that we continually firefight, so it’s important to develop coping mechanisms that rejuvenate. There are so many support groups that talk about the importance of mindfulness and meditation and relaxation techniques, but lots of people don’t practice them. People may try it once, and find that nothing happens. This is the big mistake people make. So for you to truly get into a state of mind where you are able to cope with stress, it’s about practicing these techniques on a regular basis. This means, do it every day. Think about those people who have excessive pressure on the shoulders, from presidents to business owners, they all have specific techniques that benefit them to make sure they don’t buckle under pressure on a regular basis. Take a few of these techniques and apply them to your everyday life. This could be reducing decision fatigue, or learning the triggers that affect you but also doing something every day to make you change your attitude towards life.
Keeping On Top Of Everyday Tasks
Providing, you may argue, is all about making sure they are looked after in every respect. Of course, you need to make sure they are provided for, but if you’re not fighting fit, how are they going to be looked after properly? This means as well as keeping a strong head on your shoulders, you need to keep a strong body also. It doesn’t mean you should be deadlifting 500 lbs. every day, but it’s definitely something to start thinking about if you don’t look after yourself in a physical sense. Some people argue that it’s a waste of time physically exercising when you’ve got someone who takes up a lot of your physical demands in your life, but if you don’t look after your body, as time goes on you will get weaker. So, in addition to healthy eating, and making sure that you eat the things that are good for you, by checking if you are intolerant to certain things, such as nuts or wheat, you need to get a basic level of strength in your body. http://www.sparkpeople.com/ provides a decent amount of information on working out when you are in your 50s, but for anyone who is looking to get fit when they have no experience of exercise, it can be a big shock to the system. The solution is to build up gradually but to push yourself a little bit more at the end each time. This gets you used to physical exertion, but you’re going in the right direction to strengthen yourself. If you overdo it, you will feel physically exhausted, which doesn’t suit your situation. Instead, build up slow and steady. You’re supposed to feel rejuvenated after physical exercise, remember this. Not only will getting physically fit help you deal with day-to-day tasks far easier, but it also has a positive impact on your brain, meaning you will have a lot more focus, but it’s beneficial in how you recuperate after an injury or illness. Exercise also helps you to sleep better. So if you find yourself struggling with sleep because of all this worry, exercise may be what the doctor ordered.
In providing for the ones we love that need our help the most, we need to be sure that we are fighting fit and are being as healthy as we possibly can. This means, in addition to things like exercise, emotional support is needed. You can take on as much meditation and mindfulness as you possibly can, but if you still feel alone in this, then it won’t benefit you. This is why it’s important for you to avoid that sense of isolation as much as you can. There are support groups around for those who have children with special needs, and it’s important that you take advantage of these. It’s sharing your problems, but realizing that people are going through the same things as you. Of course, no two situations are the same, and we all deal with things differently. But stress, anxiety, and depression are all too real, and if you ever feel that your mental health is compromised, it’s so important that you speak to someone. Some parents cope with their stress and anxiety to situations by turning to unsavory substances, but while you can feel it’s a short-term help, it doesn’t solve the problem long-term.
Strength is something that any carer needs to have in abundance, and you have this. Whether you don’t realize it now, the challenges you face every day are strengthening your abilities to cope. When it comes to long-term concerns and worries. By making sure that you know exactly where you can turn to for emotional or financial support, in combination with you looking after yourself so you can look after your loved ones much better, this is the formula that will serve you so very well.
