🎵 “Breathe” – EOA Caregiver time (Telepopmusik)

jessica97150

Jun 24

2 min read

💛 CAREGIVER SELF-CARE CHECKLIST

🧠 MINDSET (Start Here)

☐ Remind yourself daily: This is hard, and I’m doing my best

☐ Stop trying to control the disease (you can’t)

☐ Focus on what you can control (you, your reactions, your day)

☐ Accept that grief shows up in different ways

💛 DAILY CARE (Even if it’s small)

☐ Take 10–30 minutes for yourself (non-negotiable)

☐ Go outside (walk, sit, breathe)

☐ Move your body (walk, bike, stretch)

☐ Eat something real (not just stress snacks)

☐ Drink water (you’re probably dehydrated)

👉 Even one of these counts

🧠 MENTAL HEALTH

☐ Talk to someone (friend, therapist, group)

☐ Say things out loud instead of bottling them up

☐ Limit doom-scrolling and worst-case reading

☐ Give yourself permission to NOT be okay

Caregiver burnout is real—support and breaks are critical to avoid exhaustion and stress overload (Verywell Health)

🧍‍♀️ YOUR IDENTITY (Don’t Lose It)

☐ Do ONE thing that has nothing to do with caregiving

☐ Stay connected to a friend or outside world

☐ Maintain something that makes you feel like you

💤 REST & RECOVERY

☐ Protect your sleep (as much as possible)

☐ Consider separate sleeping arrangements if needed

☐ Ask for help if nights are too much

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 SUPPORT SYSTEM

☐ Join a support group (online or local)

☐ Talk to someone who “gets it”

☐ Ask for help (even if it feels uncomfortable)

Isolation is one of the biggest challenges caregivers face—connection helps reduce that burden (SELF)

🏡 BREAKS (You NEED Them)

☐ Look into respite care options

☐ Take breaks without guilt

☐ Step away when overwhelmed

💡 REAL TALK REMINDER

☐ You are allowed to feel:

Angry
Sad
Tired
Numb

👉 And still be a good caregiver

💬 Disclaimer

I’m not a medical professional or a lawyer—just a caregiver sharing our personal journey with Early Onset Alzheimer’s. Every situation is different, so please use what works for your family and consult medical, legal, or mental health professionals when needed.

This blog combines my real-life experiences with research, shared caregiver insight, and AI-assisted editing to help organize information and make these difficult topics easier to read and navigate. We’re all just trying to survive and help each other through it.