There is a unique joy in supporting a person with a disability throughout their life. However, that responsibility comes with some heavy burdens on the caregiver. Self-care is often put aside in favor of caring for the individual who relies on them, but this sacrifice is unsustainable in the long term.
To maintain a healthier, balanced life for everyone involved, self-care for caregivers is vitally important.
A recent study was conducted on the quality of life of caregivers for disabled adults, and the results were telling. Both mental and physical quality of life were significantly lower for them in comparison to the non-caregiver adult population.
As more studies explore this troubling difference, we’re learning just how important caregiver self-care is.
Here are some key benefits of prioritizing self-care:
If you’re not sure how to check in on yourself and evaluate the self-care you may need, we’ve got you covered. You can jot these questions in a checklist format to ask yourself once a week, or even every day if you’d like.
It can be all too easy to forge ahead because things need doing. But if you don’t take a moment to reflect and take stock of yourself, you’ll often ignore or push past things that can grow into bigger problems.
When you ask yourself this, be honest about how you’re feeling in each of these categories:
If you’re starting a day or week in pain or already drained, don’t ignore it. Instead, get ahead on planning any self-care or healthcare actions you may need to recover.
If your answer to the first questions weren’t positive, it could be that you’re neglecting something important for your well-being. Maybe it's sleep, a doctor’s visit, or a little time to yourself to recharge. But this question isn’t just about how you’re feeling.
For example, being an autism caregiver can be all-consuming at times. We can easily neglect other important things in our lives:
It’s a helpful practice to consistently remind yourself that your life, health, and responsibilities beyond caregiving are also valid and important.
Maybe in the previous questions, you’ve found things that really need to get done. Or maybe you already have everything important scheduled out, and there’s just too much to do.
Remind yourself here that you’re not alone, and you don’t have to do it all on your own. Reach out to reliable family members or trusted friends if there are any tasks that you can delegate to them. You may even consider bringing in hired help if that’s an option for you.
No matter how strong or healthy you feel, it’s always helpful to have someone to talk to. Caregivers for autistic adults and other individuals with disabilities can often fall into isolating patterns.
They may not feel like they have anyone who wants to listen or understand. In cases like this, speaking to a counselor or therapist can be the best way to practice self-care.
As a caregiver, self-care doesn’t need to be out of reach. If you’re establishing a new routine for yourself, be open with the people in your life and have a conversation about your caregiving needs.
If you’re not sure where or how to start, we’ve put together some ideas and tips to help your self-care journey along.
Setting aside some you-time isn’t selfish: it’s necessary. There’s no shame in wanting to provide the best care you can. To do that, you need to make time to rest and nurture your own identity.
Try to schedule some time for yourself every day, but ideally at least once a week. Be proactive in asking other family members, friends, or caregivers to take over during the time you need to be your best self.
If you’re not sure what to do during your time off, find a fulfilling hobby you enjoy! Here are some simple and fun options to consider:
Disability caregivers can often feel isolated if they have no one around who understands them. Fortunately, more and more local support groups and online communities have grown in recent years because of this.
Whether virtually or in person, it’s worth the effort to find and join a community that understands you when you need to vent, can offer advice, and can even help you create lifelong friendships.
If you’re short on family or friends who are available to help you, hiring extra help can make a huge difference in your quality of life. We recommend looking into options for any of the following that fit your needs. These may also be covered by your SDP budget:
If you’re a caregiver or autistic adult in California, we can help you build the independent future you seek. Our facilitation services at NeuroNav can provide the resources and expertise you need to make the most of the Self-Determination Program (SDP).
We’re ready and waiting to answer all of your questions with clear, helpful information. Schedule a consultation with us today to unlock freedom in the services available to you.