Tips For Caregivers

April 21, 2021

Providing care to a family member or friend is a challenging role – one that’s become significantly more stressful since the outbreak of COVID-19. On top of their day-to-day tasks and concerns, caregivers are now faced with protecting their loved ones from a highly contagious illness that is particularly harmful to older adults and people with underlying health conditions.

We recently shared tips on preventing virus transmission, caregiving during a pandemic and bringing a senior parent home temporarily. Today we’re turning our attention to caregivers’ mental health, with tips on how to manage anxiety during the pandemic.

How much anxiety is normal?

If you’re feeling anxious, afraid or hopeless about the pandemic, you’re not alone. It’s a stressful situation for everyone, affecting many aspects of daily life and changing how we relate to one another and our environment. Many Canadians are also experiencing financial stress as a result of the pandemic.

While anxiety and stress are common reactions to what’s happening in the world right now, it’s important to take steps to help yourself feel calmer and more in control.

Ways to reduce anxiety

Create a backup plan. Ease your mind by creating a plan for your loved one’s care in the event that you become ill. The Ontario Caregiver Organization has a helpful checklist for making a contingency plan.

Take a break from the news. The flow of pandemic-related news is non-stop, and the information seems to change hour by hour. Consult reliable sources (see our recommendations below) and unplug periodically from the news and social media.

Treat yourself with kindness. This is not life as usual! Acknowledge your concerns and fears. Practise self-compassion. Think about times in the past when you have been resilient and strong. Try to feel hopeful and positive.

Keep a journal. This can help you organize your thoughts, cope with difficult emotions and cultivate a sense of gratitude – which is also beneficial for mental health.

Practise self-care. It can be hard to find the time to look after yourself – including exercising, eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, seeing friends and doing other things you enjoy – but self-care is essential for caregivers.

Seek support. This will be different for everyone, but sources of support during a difficult time could include friends, family members, support groups, community organizations, crisis lines or health professionals. If you need help to meet your loved one’s care needs, consider professional home care services.

How to discuss COVID-19 with your loved one

The person you care for may also feel anxious about the pandemic, even if they don’t mention it. The topic can be frightening, especially for people who are self-isolating or who live with dementia. They may be alarmed by what they hear or read in the news, or confused by conflicting advice.

The World Health Organization (WHO) offers this advice for caregivers: “Share simple facts about what is going on and give clear information about how to reduce risk of infection in words older people with/without cognitive impairment can understand. Repeat the information whenever necessary. Instructions need to be communicated in a clear, concise, respectful and patient way. It may also be helpful for information to be displayed in writing or pictures. Engage family members and other support networks in providing information and helping people to practise prevention measures (e.g. handwashing, etc.).”