BALANCING ACT

from Sun City West / Surprise - July 2023

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Caregiving can cause wear and tear on a marriage, especially when it’s a live-in situation. Marital strains, conflicts, tensions, and disagreements can stem from finances, less time together, stress, frustration, fatigue, and resentment. It’s hard to get along when you’re emotionally and physically exhausted from trying to balance everyone’s needs.

Maintaining your marriage while providing the best care possible for your loved one, and not losing your sanity in the process is difficult, but not impossible. The solution to protecting and nurturing your marriage while caregiving lies in patience, understanding, emotional support, and a commitment to working together. Hopefully these ideas will help you achieve a stronger, more intimate relationship than ever.

Remember, your spouse is your number one priority

Presumably, you’ll be spending the rest of your life with your spouse, long after your loved ones are gone. When your relationship is under stress, it’s important for both parties to make your marriage a priority.

Communicate

Honest communication is the key to any healthy relationship. Staying connected helps prevent misunderstandings. Talk with your spouse about how this new role is affecting your relationship and how they can support you.

Adjust your expectations

Unrealistic expectations not only set you up for disappointment, but they also set you up for guilt, bitterness, frustration, and resentment. Set reasonable and realistic expectations for both yourself and your spouse. Remember, they’re doing their best, just like you. Be kind–don’t beat yourself up. When fatigue, anxiety, or aggravation sets in, let yourself feel it. Take a nap, scream into a pillow, write it down in a journal–whatever it takes to let that feeling be felt–then let it go and move on.

Foster “we” time

Fun and romance are often the first things to fly out the window in a marriage, especially under the added stress of family caregiving. Three’s a crowd. Make sure you get some one-on-one, unchaperoned time together to reconnect. Otherwise, your partner will inevitably start to feel neglected.

Seek support

Your partner is your live-in sounding board, but constantly venting your frustrations to them isn’t fair. Connect with others in similar situations online or in-person.

Say “thank you”

Oftentimes, you as the caregiver do not receive a “thank you,” so why would your partner? Make sure your spouse knows how much you appreciate their support by expressing your gratitude.

Flashback

Answers on pg. 44

1. Name the group that released, “If You Don’t Know Me by Now.”

2. Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas shared a manager with which famous group?

3. Name the soul family group that released the hit song, “Too Late to Turn Back Now.”

4. Which duo launched their career when they released “Little Latin Lupe Lu”?

5. Name the song that contains these lyrics: “Gonna run my fingers thru your long black hair, Squeeze you tighter than a grizzly bear.”

If

Are you new to Medicare?

Unsure how health insurance will work?

Receiving Medicare & Medicaid?

Thinking about retiring?

Recently moved?

Paying too much for prescriptions?

QUESTIONS...

1. When did “Sesame Street” debut on PBS?

2. What is the name of the moon where “Avatar” takes place?

3. Which country is home to a tall rock structure called the Finger of God?

4. What was Babe Ruth’s real first name?

5. How many of Snow White’s seven dwarfs have names ending in “y”?

6. Which country did the band AC/DC come from?

7. How many books are in the primary Harry Potter novel series?

8. How many national parks are in the United States?

9. In which country was the Caesar Salad invented?

10. Where exactly in the human body is the uvula located?

Blueberry Peach Feta

Food Summer Salad

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk vinegar, lemon zest, mustard, and salt. While whisking, slowly pour in oil until smooth and emulsified. Add shallots and whisk to combine. Add peaches, cucumbers, blueberries, and basil and toss to combine. Top with feta.