Small sweet steps for self-care

There is a lot of good advice in this article about self-care for alzheimers caregivers. Truthfully, it applies no matter who you care for. In the coming year, I will be writing more about caregiver self-care. Today, I'm highlighting one sweet step that often gets lost in the shuffle....

Think about how many times over the last year you have taken your aging parent or spouse to a doctor's appointment? Chances are you will need all of your fingers and toes to count the visits. Now, when was the last time YOU had a check up? Caregivers often forget to schedule medical appointments for themselves because our needs get pushed way down to the bottom of our endless To-Do lists. Yet, if you don't take that time for self-care, health issues can go undiagnosed, perhaps becoming harder to treat. Even if you're younger and generally healthy, recognize that caregiving puts extra stress on both your physical and mental health. And when you are not well, it makes it all the harder to care for others.

So, are you willing to take a small sweet step towards self-care in the new year?

Call or go online today to set up an appointment with the healthcare provider of your choice. If you need 2019 healthcare coverage, please go to www.healthcare.gov to sign up right now. The Open Enrollment period closes in most states on December 15th. There's still time to pick a plan that meets your needs and find out if you qualify for premium subsidies.

​What would it be like for you to be physically fit and full of vitality in the new year?  What would that mean to you and your loved ones? What, if any, support do you need to take these steps with ease?