Caregiving can be rewarding, especially when you know that the care you give makes a positive impact on the life of your loved one. But caregiving is difficult and can take a toll on the health—both mental and physical—of the caregiver. Allhealth.com offers the following advice to help long-term caregivers cope with the extra stress of fulfilling their duties:

Denying your own needs may help for short-term situations, but it will only hamper long-term success. Caregivers who do not first care for themselves tend to become depressed, develop illness, or burn out.

Here are some examples of caring for yourself first:

• Take time out for yourself;
• Watch for signs of depression;
• Get regular exercise;
• Maintain a healthy diet;
• Recognize stress and try to avoid it;
• Recognize guilt for what it covers—resentment—and break out of the resentment-guilt cycle.

Providing too much care is the most common caregiver mistake. Even if they don’t admit it, people need to and like to help themselves as much as possible. Empowering the person to care for himself or herself is an important part of caregiving, and one of the most difficult. Try not to rescue your loved one. Instead, help them help themselves, and provide only the care they need.

Never assume you are the only source of help available. Nursing homes, respite care providers, adult day care centers, adult foster care homes, hospice programs, and others may help when your own resources run short.