When the Stress of Life and Caring for Dad is Too Much, Ask For Help

A few days ago, a dear friend was seated on the edge of the exam table while her doctor scolded her once again about her weight and blood pressure. When the doctor asked my friend about the stress in her life, she started to cry.

Stress, as you and I know, is something we don’t immediately know how to conquer. No matter how we might try, we usually fail and there are always a lot of reasons like my friend’s:

• Two of my friend’s adult children are unemployed and struggling to avoid home foreclosure. She now babysits four of her grandchildren on weekends since their parents took on extra jobs to help pay bills.
• With recent layoffs in her company, she’s taken on additional responsibilities at work. That has meant she’s working later and is bringing work home on the weekends.

As if that isn’t enough, her aging father shouts at her and argues about everything she says when she calls to check on him.

With all these pressures, she does not sleep well and has no time to exercise.

When life feels like it is suffocating you, it’s often very helpful to simply sit down with a piece of paper to analyze what you can and can’t do anything about it:

• Gently speak to the adult children about what measures they have taken to reduce spending. Do they still have the expensive cable package? Should they sell one of the family vehicles? Should they look into improving their resumes and job search skills?
• No matter how nuts your schedule might be, make some time for yourself. Get up an hour earlier and take a brisk walk around the neighborhood or soak in a bubble bath after everyone is sleeping.
• Your dad might just listen much better to the voice of a Keeping In Touch Solutions care caller than to yours. Did you know he might be a lot more willing to take all of his medications every day if someone other than family calls to remind him?

The stresses in our lives don’t stop just because we wish they would. Often, we have to make changes that are difficult, but, in the end, better for us. That’s where Keeping In Touch Solutions can help. If your life is spinning like my friend’s, we can alleviate some of your stress while at the same time providing your dad, or mom or grandpop with an important daily call.

A daily check-in call could be the lifeline, the joy you give someone that makes the biggest difference in their perception of what old age is like.

Contact me at 317-480-1038 today. Let’s make a difference together.

I’m Diana Beam, Founder of Keeping in Touch Solutions. It is my heartfelt desire for every person to live a happy and healthy life in the place they call home, no matter what their age. You can’t put a price on peace of mind for your parents and yourself. It’s priceless . . . and significant.

For that reason, the goal of every Keeping In Touch Solutions program is to provide a caring connection and service that both the elderly and their caregivers can rely on to make living that good life easier.