September 6, 2023 by
Remember how it felt to be a teenager. Think about your place of solitude and how important it was to have a safe place for yourself to forget about the rest of the world, listen to your favorite music, and pour your troubles out to your diary.
The need for privacy that began then may become overshadowed when providing care for someone else. Yet it’s still vitally important to be able to separate yourself both physically and mentally from your caregiving role to take time for yourself.
How to Protect Your Privacy as a Caregiver
Honestly, it’s not always easy. There’s so much pressure as a caregiver to make sure you always keep an eye and ear out for the person you care for. There are some steps you can take to help, however. Try to:
Establish a place for privacy for yourself and the person you care for. At the end of the day, the person you care for needs privacy just like you. Agree that whenever either of you needs some alone time, you can retreat to your chosen spot and only interrupt one another in the event of an emergency.
Agree on house rules. It’s helpful to establish rules and etiquette when living in shared living spaces. For instance, take turns choosing TV shows to watch, so one person isn’t monopolizing the remote. Compromises such as this will make together time less stressful for all.
Make room for emotional privacy. Make time to take breaks from caring so you have time to disconnect and recharge. Go on vacations, attend events and activities with other friends and family members, take a book to the park for a relaxing afternoon. At Home Independent Living’s care experts are always on hand to fill your caregiving shoes while you take time for self-care.
Special Considerations for Dementia
If the older adult you care for is living with dementia, maintaining privacy can be more of a challenge, but it’s also even more important to establish. The individual may require 24/7 oversight to ensure safety, but this doesn’t mean that you should (or can) provide that level of care yourself.
It’s common for primary family caregivers to feel as though there’s no one who knows the aging adult or their particular needs well enough to help them provide care. This is when our specially trained and experienced caregivers are an invaluable part of your care team. We can partner with you to ensure the seamless, reliable, skilled care a senior needs, while you take the regular breaks from care you need.
Contact us online or at (315) 579-HOME (4663) for more tips on how to protect your privacy as a caregiver and help you achieve a healthy life balance. Our customized home care services are available in Apulia Station, Baldwinsville, Brewerton, and the surrounding areas.