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SCRC'S Caregiver of the Month Spotlight: Leonor
Leonor is a long-distance caregiver for her mother with dementia and an in-person caregiver for her husband who, in addition to physical ailments, has begun to show signs of memory loss. Caring for her loved ones through such significant change has been difficult at times, and Leonor often finds herself overwhelmed.
Above all else, Leonor emphasizes the importance of monitoring her level of stress and becoming familiar with her own “warning signs”: the ways her body and mind tell her that it’s time for a break. Leonor’s advice to fellow family caregivers is to practice mindfulness and self-awareness in order to maintain positive control over their wellbeing. She also encourages caregivers not only to take breaks when necessary, but to use this break time in a way that strengthens their sense of individuality. Leonor suggests setting aside 10-15 minutes per break to meditate, listen to music, take a walk, or write in a journal before returning to caregiving responsibilities.
Leonor credits SCRC with helping her come to the realization that, in order to provide the best possible care for her loved ones, she has to take care of herself. She is grateful for SCRC’s virtual, easily accessible self-care classes designed for family caregivers.
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