Empower the Patient | Help For Caregivers

Caring for a loved one who is ill can be overwhelming. Whether you are caring for your spouse, partner, parent, child or friend, you have an enormous responsibility and play a crucial role as part of the healthcare team. The role can be emotionally and physically draining, and while often personally rewarding can sometimes be very stressful. In order to take care of someone else, it is critical that you take care of your own physical and mental health. Taking care of yourself will make you a more effective caregiver.

Pullquote: Don’t be afraid to take time for yourself.

It may seem overwhelming, but try to ensure you eat well, sleep, and keep the stress levels down. Your good health will allow you to cope more effectively with the challenges you and your loved one will face. It will help you maintain a better outlook on life.

Nutrition –You need energy throughout your long days to care for your loved one and ward off illness. Try to eat simple, nutritious meals, and drink 6-8 glasses of water each day. Try to minimize caffeine and alcohol.
Keep exercising – Your days are already full, but even 15 minutes of exercise will help you relax and feel better. Walking, jogging, swimming, bicycling and yoga are energizing. Playing with the kids counts!
Get enough rest – Another tough request. Consider outsourcing the tasks that are keeping you from getting to bed on time, such as housekeeping.
Relax – You may find it challenging to balance your own life and the demands of a sick loved one. But if left unmanaged, stress can lead to health problems including depression. Relaxation exercises may help relieve stress and anxiety. Find a quiet place and arrange at least 15 minutes without interruption.
Be aware of the signs of depression.


Your life was probably pretty full before you took on the role of caregiver. There are some things you can do to free up your time to take care of yourself and your loved one.
		Prioritize. Do what is really important and delegate the rest, or leave it for another time. Ask for help. Family, friends and neighbours can make meals and help with driving. Hire a service. Even having someone take care of your cleaning, shopping or laundry once in awhile will help. Keep your calendar updated with the appointments and to-do items so you don't lose track. This will help you assign a task if someone offers to help!

Support groups offer an opportunity for you to share information and feel connected to others who, just like you, are providing care. There are two main types of support groups:

1. Community Support Groups: People who live near each other and meet regularly. This type of support group provides face-to-face contact with people from your area who will be more familiar with local resources and challenges.

2. Internet Support Groups: These groups meet on-line from all over the world, and you can access them whenever it's convenient for you.

To locate a support group speak to your healthcare team for local resources, or click here to go to Useful Links.

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