While being a family caregiver is meaningful and rewarding, it’s normal to need some care yourself. If you find it stressful to coordinate your loved one’s care, you’re not alone: 70% of family caregivers feel the same way.
But here’s the good news: There’s a wide range of resources in the greater Columbus area for caregiver stress management and to help you take care of yourself.
Resources for Caregiver Stress Management in Central Ohio
The Columbus Region is full of resources, groups and events to offer support and help you unwind—and many of them are free or discounted for seniors. Here are some of our favorite ways you and your loved one can manage stress in the area.
Get Outdoors
Greenery and open sky aren’t just pretty to look at—spending time outside can actually improve your mental health. And the Columbus Region has no shortage of options.
Though it’s the second-oldest park in Columbus, the years haven’t diminished Schiller Park a bit. With flower gardens, picnic areas and a fishing pond, Schiller Park is a great place to spend an afternoon. It’s even better during the summer, when the Actor’s Theatre of Columbus hosts its yearly Shakespeare in the Park performance. (This year, they’re putting on “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”)
Want to go explore the wild? Venture no further than Blendon Woods Metro Park, a 653-acre expanse of spectacular oak-hickory forests crisscrossed by rivers and roughly six miles of hiking trails. Birdwatchers will find paradise in the adjoining Walden Waterfowl Refuge, where spotting scopes in two observation shelters give you an up-close look at the local avian life.
Spark Your Creativity
Engaging the creative side of your brain is a great way to connect with yourself. In fact, art therapy is recognized as a fun and productive way to process difficult emotions and reduce stress. Devoting just a few hours a week to your hobbies and creative pursuits can fill up your tank and leave you ready to face whatever the day brings.
Looking for a new hobby? Try booking a class at Pinot’s Palette, a paint-and-sip studio with locations in Columbus and Dublin, where professional artists will show you how to paint landscapes, still lives and more. Their classes are even senior-friendly, so you can bring your loved one and make a day of it.
Catch Some Tunes
Music can help you unwind and connect with yourself, and no recording is as good as a live performance. Stop by the Northstar Cafe in Easton any night of the week, where you’ll find live jazz performances every night with local artists like Derek DiCenzo and Demetrius Steinmetz.
Get Support From Others
When you’re feeling stressed, one of the best things to do is to talk about it. Having others listen to you can help you process emotions and ground yourself, especially when those people understand what you’re going through.
That’s why Bethany Cain, a licensed social worker on our staff, hosts regular support groups for family caregivers alongside the Alzheimer’s Association. These groups offer a safe, warm space where you can draw on the experience and compassion of other family caregivers. By receiving support and giving it in return, you can reduce stress, build resilience and become a part of a meaningful community.
Plan for the Future
Self-care is often the best way to reduce stress. But sometimes, the best way to address it long-term is to lean in and build a concrete plan. Preparing for the future can make even the most unexpected situations manageable. And in the Columbus Region, there are many professionals who can help.
At FirstLight Home Care of Central Ohio, we get to know the best senior care resources in the area because we know your loved one needs a network of support. We’d be happy to refer you to professionals we know and trust, like estate planning attorneys and social workers.
If you need a Senior Care Manager, we highly recommend Lindsey Allomong at Senior Care Connect. As a licensed social worker specializing in helping seniors, Lindsey can help you identify and meet your loved one’s needs.
Reach Out for Support
Being a family caregiver is rewarding, but it can also be stressful. But with the resources available in the Columbus Region, you don’t have to go it alone.
If you need help caring for your loved one, FirstLight Home Care of Central Ohio is here for you. Whether you need someone to help them temporarily while you’re traveling or more regular, ongoing assistance, our caregivers can provide loving care and genuine companionship.
Whether you want to learn more about how we can help or just want a referral to other resources, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to helping you and your loved one however you need.