Bleak predictions abound whenever research on caregiving makes the news. A 2006 New England Journal of Medicine study that followed 518,000 older couples on Medicare noted an increased risk of death among caregiving partners of spouses who had been hospitalized for serious illnesses. The Nurses' Health Study, which enrolled more than 37,000 women, reported that those caring for an ill or disabled spouse were nearly six times as likely as noncaregivers to suffer depression or anxiety. Researchers have linked caregiving to a greater risk of high blood pressure, sluggish wound healing or other signs of a distressed immune system, and self-reports of poor health.

Certainly when caregivers are exhausted, stressed, and isolated, their health suffers. But the culprit isn't merely caregiving, which can forge a loving, healthy connection. It's the difficulty of eating well, exercising, enjoying life, releasing stress, and getting the rest and support you need when you're caring for someone around the clock or combining care with an already full plate. A 2006 Annals of Internal Medicine study of more than 640 dementia patients and caregivers found that depression rates were half as low among caregivers randomized to receive nine support sessions at home and another three by phone over the course of six months than it was for those who didn't receive support.

Seek respite care and assistance. Time for yourself makes a real difference. So, too, does getting the assistance that you need, whether it's help with finances or daily tasks.

Eat well. Include plenty of vegetables and fruits in your diet, and choose whole grains over refined-grain products. Limit or cut out unhealthy fats and too many sweets. Keep healthy snacks available, like air-popped popcorn or fruit.

Stay active. Frequent exercise delivers proven health benefits, such as lowering cholesterol and blood pressure. Try to get 30 to 60 minutes of moderate exercise a day, most days of the week. If that sounds impossible, remember that some activity is always better than none.

Stay connected. Catch up with friends by phone or e-mail, or plan weekly walks and the occasional lunch or movie. Ask people to visit you, or to drop by to see the person you're helping so that you can take a break.

Enjoy yourself. Listen to music you like, enjoy a luxurious bath, take a yoga class, dabble in art or creative pastimes, go out to dinner, or splurge on a massage. Regular time off helps make the point that you're neither invincible nor completely irreplaceable.

Source: from Caregiver’s Handbook, Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.  Use of Content | Medical Disclaimer