Caregiver in Matthews NC
Caregivers who aren’t used to taking time for themselves can often feel extreme guilt even about the idea of taking time away. That’s not healthy, though, either for you or for your elderly loved one.
Look at Why You Need Time for Yourself
If you’re not sure why you should prioritize time that is just for you, you may need to dig a little deeper into what that means for you. Taking time for yourself can include:
Taking naps
Exercising
Eating right and planning healthy meals
Getting a massage
Journaling
Spending time with friends
Reading
Attending support group meetings
Your personal list might include different activities, but chances are really good that all of the items on the list help you to feel refreshed and whole with energy to give back to your elderly loved one.
Remind Yourself What Taking Time for Yourself Gives You
When you take time for yourself regularly, how do you feel? Ideally, you’re feeling well-rested, centered, and able to take on all the various challenges that you face as a family caregiver. You’re less likely to have a short temper or to feel that the world is working against you. Take a few moments also to think about how you feel and how you react when you’re not able to get any time for yourself. That can help you to change your priorities quickly.
Change Your Thinking
The biggest reason that family caregivers experience feelings of guilt when they decide to take time for themselves is that they fear that they’re being selfish. The harsh truth is that you do have to care for yourself in order to be able to care for anyone else. Turn your thoughts from believing that this is selfish to realizing that this is necessary. You may need time and tools such as counselling or journaling to truly change those beliefs, but it can be done.
Line up Care for Your Loved One
When you do decide to take time for yourself, make sure that you have care options lined up for your loved one. This could mean that other family members are able to take over for you for an afternoon or elderly care providers come by for the day. Find the best solutions for your situation.
You might feel awkward or uncomfortable at first, but the more you allow yourself to experience how much time to yourself gives back to you and your loved one, the easier it gets.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a professional in-home Caregiver in Matthews NC, please call the caring staff at BlueDot Cares today, (704) 586-9248.
Jimmy Clonaris is Managing Partner at BlueDot Cares, where he oversees operations, caregiver standards, and service delivery for in-home care across the organization. With more than 19 years of experience in healthcare and over a decade with BlueDot, he has been directly involved in building and scaling care programs that support individuals aging at home.
His work focuses on the practical side of care delivery. This includes caregiver training and oversight, care plan consistency, and coordination with families and local healthcare professionals. Jimmy is actively involved in ensuring that care is not only well-structured on paper, but executed reliably in the home.
Over the course of his career, he has worked with thousands of families navigating care decisions, from short-term recovery support to long-term in-home care. His approach is grounded in clear communication, accountability, and building systems that allow caregivers to deliver consistent, high-quality support.
Under his leadership, BlueDot Cares has grown to support tens of thousands of families while maintaining a locally operated, relationship-driven model. He continues to focus on strengthening the team, improving care standards, and ensuring families have a dependable partner when care is needed.
