The physical demands of being a caregiver for an aging adult are not insignificant. The truth of the matter is that the physical aspect of this task can be monumental, especially if the caregiver is of the same age or nearly as old as the aging patient. In situations where a younger person, such as a son or daughter, is caring for the aging person the physical demands might be reduced given the health of the caregiver. Regardless of the age of the caregiver, being a caregiver can require a lot of physical work depending on the health of the person one is caring for. Taking time to understand these physical demands and how best to cope with them can mean reduced stress for the caregiver and better care for the patient.

One of the specific physical demands of being a caretaker for an aging person is that of bathing and clothing the person. While these tasks do not normally take that much time under normal conditions, when one is assisting someone with reduced or no mobility, these seemingly simple jobs can become long and physically demanding. The best ways to ensure that these daily tasks do not become too overwhelmingly demanding is to help the person for whom you are caring to remain as independent as possible. While it may be quicker for you to button his or her shirt for them, it is worthwhile to let the person do it his or herself. Not only does this result in a diminished reduction in day-to-day functioning, but it also gives the person the feeling that they can still do some things for themselves, which is very important psychologically.

The other thing you can do to reduce the load of daily bathing and clothing needs is to have your home and bathroom set up with the proper equipment needed to assist you as much as possible. While it may be possible for the person to do up their own buttons, it may also be impossible for the person to lift himself or herself out of a bathtub. This does not mean that you should be manually lifting the person out of the bathtub; rather, you should have your bathroom set up in a way that allows you to minimize the physical strain on yourself because the equipment takes the brunt of the body weight. Not only does this equipment have to be purchased and installed, you have to learn how to use it properly so that it can work for you.

Check with your doctor and your health insurance company in order to find out how you can get some or all of the cost of such devices covered by insurance. If you simply look for such devices online you might think you could never afford it, but you might just be pleasantly surprised by what the individual’s cost is when a doctor deems it necessary and the insurer pays part of the cost.

In addition to helping yourself in the ways mentioned above in order to reduce the physical stress of caregiving, you should also remember that you have to get adequate sleep, exercise often and eat healthily. Taking good care of yourself will make you much better able to take care of the person you love and for whom you are the primary caregiver. Caregivers often become stressed under the physical and mental demands of being a primary caregiver for an aging adult. Don’t forget that it’s normal and customary to seek help for yourself both in terms of physical support (like bed and bathing devices) as well as emotional help for yourself be it in the form of professional counseling, a group for caregivers that meets online or in person or simply a network of family and friends who support you.