Balancing Caregiving and Marriage

Providing care for an elderly family member can require hours of unpaid time, energy, and attention. Because of this, many caregivers struggle to balance the duties of being a caregiver with being a husband or wife. This imbalance can (and often does) cause strain on relationships and marriages. When this happens, it’s important to remember the following: while you want to provide the best possible care for your loved one, you should never let caregiving take precedence over your marriage – and your loved one shouldn’t want that either. It’s important to dedicate the same amount of emotional energy to your marriage as you do caregiving.

5 Tips for Balancing Caregiving and Marriage

Here are a few tips to help strengthen and protect your relationship:

1. Communicate freely and regularly.

The secret to any successful marriage is communication. No matter how busy you and your spouse may be, spare a few minutes each day to discuss your feelings and experiences. Keeping your worries or frustrations bottled inside is unhealthy and can lead to further problems. Be open with your partner and learn to solve your problems together.

2. Reach out to friends, family, and caregiver support groups.

Venting to your spouse is important, but being able to communicate with others who understand or experience the same struggles will help you stay mentally healthy, ease the burden on your spouse, and relieve tension at home.

3. Schedule date nights and weekend getaways with your spouse.

Every so often, it’s important to dedicate uninterrupted time with your partner, whether it’s a dinner date, a weeknight movie, a weekend at the beach or lake, or something a little less traditional, like dancing, attending a comedy show, or taking up a new hobby. Spending quality time with one another helps not only to keep your love alive but also to break away from the daily routine of caregiving.

4. Find time for romance.

Dedicating time on the weekends or evenings is difficult, sometimes impossible. Look for opportunities throughout the day to romance each other. Laugh and flirt and hold hands often. Never forget the attraction you have toward one another and show your affection every chance you get. Small gestures like coffee in bed or a romantic massage can greatly impact a marriage.

5. Take care of yourself.

Eat healthy, stay active, get plenty of rest, and even take a few moments out of the day to do something you enjoy. Doing so will better prepare you mentally and physically for caregiving duties, and put you in a better place to fully tend to your marriage.

Contact Care Options for Kids for Home Care Services in Florida

Sometimes the duties of caregiving may be overwhelming, putting a large amount of strain on your family. When this happens, a change in caregiving arrangements may be necessary. If you feel that you need assistance providing care for elderly loved ones in the home, Care Options for Kids can help.

We refer loving and competent caregivers to provide customized care for families in need – from a few hours a day to around-the-clock care. Contact us directly to speak with a home health care professional or request a free in-home assessment. Together we can determine the best plan of action to keep loved ones happy and healthy.

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care services in Florida, contact the caring staff at Care Options for Kids. Call today at (888) 592-5855.