First and foremost, you must remember that your health is extremely important when you are a primary caregiver. Physical [and emotional] health must be maintained to successfully care for another individual. The patient is dependent on your abilities and capabilities. Poor health guide is not only dangerous for the caregiver, but can be critical to the care and mental health of their patient. The patient must feel confident in a caregiver.

The key to maintaining good health is to practice preventative measures. Trying to treat or correct a condition after it happens is much more difficult than preventing it to begin with.

Proper eating habits [while not always possible] can be practiced as routine, reducing the risks of compromised health. Increasing the amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables; and reducing the amounts of red (or fried) meats, will go a long way in maintaining a healthier you. Mealtime should be free of all distractions, if possible. All other activities should be avoided during this time. That means, no telephone calls, TV, online activities, reading -- nothing between you and your food! Remember, the mind and body function better with proper nourishment.

Scheduling your mealtime one hour prior to that of the patient's will most often work out better for everybody and allows time for your meal to digest. Since some patients require special meals or feeding, this practice also allows you to pay full attention to the needs of the patient during their meals.

Proper sleeping habits should be established by sticking to a scheduled bedtime. For those who cannot maintain this habit, staying within a one to two hour period of the same time nightly, will allow the body to function better during the day. It is essential to schedule a minimum of six hours, preferably eight hours of sleep each night. Sleeping more than this [barring special health guide conditions] can actually cause a person to perform more sluggishly throughout the day. If you have difficulty sleeping due to outside noises, white noise is very useful as a sleep aid. White noise could be simply running a box fan or a babbling tabletop water fountain. I fall asleep more readily to the sound of voices, so I leave my TV on with the timer set for an hour. Each person will be different, so find what works for you.

Proper exercise is an important dynamic to maintaining a healthy, strong body. The person in the role of caregiver knows all too well the physical challenges involved in the daily routine of their patient. From lifting, to bending and stooping, the caregiver will find themselves using muscles they never knew they had. So it becomes doubly important to practice Cardio-vascular exercises and incorporate stretching and muscle relaxation techniques into their routine.

On a final note to your physical health, if supplements become necessary, avoid medicinals and opt for herbs and vitamins. Energy and sleep aids, whether over the counter or prescribed should be avoided whenever possible so that the caregiver can think clearly and without delayed reaction in emergency situations.

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