Spring is in full swing, with longer days, sunnier weather, blooming flowers and the opportunity to get out and enjoy the season. While many of us take this time to busy ourselves with airing out and cleaning our houses, this is also an opportune time for caregivers to take a look at our routines and see what we can clean up and get ready for the new season.
“Any routine can get stale and there’s no stronger recipe for boredom and restlessness than that,” says Trish McKay, Executive Director of Bridges® by EPOCH at Trumbull, a Memory Care Assisted Living community in Trumbull, CT. “When the seasons change, we naturally have the urge to make positive changes throughout all aspects of our lives. This spring is a great opportunity to embrace the changing seasons and re-energize your caregiving routine for your loved one and yourself.”
Trish says that it doesn’t take huge life changes to freshen up a routine and give you new insight and energy. “Even just doing one new thing in a different way can be enough,” she explains. “In fact, slow but sure is the key. Just as with any habit, it’s good to start small and have those little wins that boost your morale and get you moving to the next level. Remember, you can always keep changing things if you want more.”
Whether you’ve been a caregiver for years or a first-time novice, there are always things you can do to create new goals and recalibrate. Here are some helpful tasks to add to your to-do list that will get your caregiving routine springtime fresh.
Go outside.
Nicer weather has arrived, and if you’re like us, you’re ready to get out of the house and shake off winter blahs. This season is a perfect opportunity to get reacquainted with the great outdoors, nature and favorite outside activities. Go to a park with your loved one, take a stroll through the woods, enjoy a picnic lunch in your backyard – just being out in the sun and breathing in the fresh air has been proven to reduce stress, improve mood and even boost your immune system.
Since spring is the season of growing things, you and your loved one can pair fresh air with some beneficial exercise. Gardening is an excellent form of physical activity, as it pairs resistance with flexibility and endurance. Plus, you get the benefit of seeing your beautiful creations bloom so you can enjoy them throughout the warmer months. If you find it hard to get outside, consider bringing the outside indoors – open your windows and place house plants throughout your home to help decorate (and improve the air quality in your house).
Eat seasonally.
Ever notice how it’s so much more enjoyable to eat healthy when the weather is nice? Coincidentally, spring is also when delicious fruits and vegetables are at their peak. Take advantage by eating a heart-healthy diet that will help you look and feel good, while also keeping you and your loved one healthy. Fill up your plates with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, low-fat dairy, healthy fats and other whole foods. Eating the right foods will help fill you up, improve your mood and cognitive function, help you sleep better and give you energy.
Feeling a bit stuck in your eating routine? Add a little kick to your food with a variety of spices and herbs. Not only will they add flavor, but certain ingredients can be good for your health by keeping blood vessels clear and other benefits. Spring is also a great time to plant some herbs in your garden so you always have fresh, locally grown ingredients to improve your meals.
Refresh your caregiver routine.
Think about your daily and weekly routine with your loved one. What aspects of your routine are working? What could use a little extra help? For example, are you able to handle most of the personal care tasks but are having a hard time getting healthy and regular meals on the table? Are there things you could outsource, ask for help with or give up entirely? This is a chance for you to identify habits, tasks or items that you aren’t currently doing, but could improve your life (and get rid of the ones that aren’t helping).
Start a new exercise routine.
We’ve already mentioned gardening and getting out in nature as a great way to get some exercise. Now that the seasons have changed, why not change up your fitness routine? Start something new like yoga, tai chi or another practice you’ve always wanted to try out. This will help keep you engaged in your exercise routine and also maximize your fitness results (doing the same exercise routine over and over results in boredom and muscle memory, neither of which are good for your results).
Improve your sleep habits.
Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the very best things you can do to improve your health, boost your mood, maintain a healthy weight and keep your body functioning well. However, most of us don’t get enough sleep, and that goes double for caregivers. We as Americans are pretty bad at keeping our bedrooms as a haven for comfort and sleep. This spring, clean up your sleep routine so that you can sleep longer, deeper and get the rest you need in order to be the best caregiver possible.
Start by ensuring your bedroom is not too hot and not too cool. You’ll also want to check to be sure that it’s adequately dark and relatively soundproofed (you may need to invest in a white noise machine and some blackout drapes). Next, remove all the screens from the bedroom (yes, even phones), which emit a blue light that disrupts our sleep patterns. Finally create a soothing pre-sleep ritual that gets you relaxed and ready to doze off. Do something that relaxes you, whether that’s a hot bath, reading a few chapters in a book or meditating for ten minutes before turning out the lights.
Spend time with your loved one.
Yes, as a caregiver, you probably already spend a significant time with your loved one. But most of the time, you’re probably acting as a caregiver – not as a spouse, or child or friend. When you become a caregiver, that role comes to the forefront, often meaning that you push your original relationship aside. This spring, find ways to spend time with your loved one as you once were so you can nurture your relationship, create memories and enjoy being together. This may mean that you have to hire extra help or ask someone for assistance, but the results you’ll get and feel will be priceless.
Dedicated Memory Care
Bridges® by EPOCH at Trumbull delivers highly specialized memory care assisted living for those with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Our resident-centered approach focuses on providing dignity, purpose and moments of joy in daily life for those in all stages of the disease. We offer a wellness-focused lifestyle that centers around a resident’s current skills and abilities, not those that have been lost to dementia.
Life-Enriching Programs
Our team members take an active role in getting to know each resident on a personal level to deliver programming that is meaningful to them. We account for the preferences, interests, needs and abilities of our residents to connect with them and encourage their involvement in daily life and boost self-esteem.
Warm, Residential Atmosphere
Featuring a stunning residential design, every inch of our community has been designed to benefit those with memory loss. Attributes such as soft colors, directional cues, aromatherapy and interactive life stations create a soothing and secure environment where residents feel comfortable, safe and at home.
Bridges® by EPOCH is New England’s largest stand-alone memory care assisted living provider.
Contact us today to learn more.