Dimensions of caregiving - self care

The practices and routines for daily living that kept me on an even keel before caregiving were not robust enough to keep me in good health during caregiving. 

Learning to manage the work of caregiving is not the same as learning the work of self care during caregiving. When my care recipient moved in with me I was on a dual learning curve - managing the work of caregiving and managing my self care during caregiving.

There is a third dimension of work during caregiving, and that is managing supports for both getting the work done for the care recipient, but also managing the supports to make time for self care away from the care recipient.

Self care during caregiving could be understood as four dimensions of work:

1. Work required to maintain health and well being of the care recipient;
2. Work required to maintain health and well being of the caregiver;
3. Work required to marshal supports to maintain the health and well being of the care recipient;
4. Work required to marshal supports to maintain the health and well being of the caregiver.

Each of these four dimensions entails a learning curve, new relationships, new information, new skills, and processing new experiences.

Success in all of these four dimensions would result in a caregiver and care recipient thriving as they work day to day to sustain health and well being.

Self care is a constellation of learned behaviours grounded in healthy self esteem and supported by access to resources.