Also: What is the magic sleep number? Must-have high-tech tools for caregivers.

5 ways to care for yourself while caring for a loved one Image: iStock Caring for an aging parent or a loved one who is ill or disabled is often deeply rewarding. But it can also consume a lot of time, as well as physical and emotional energy. You may feel overwhelmed by myriad responsibilities — home, work, other family needs, and caregiving. But it's just as important to care for yourself before you burn out. Try our five tips below to help rejuvenate yourself. 1. Recruit help: You don't have to "do it all" yourself. In fact, it's best to have more than one person involved in caregiving. Whether it's accompanying your loved one to appointments, helping with housework, or cooking dinner one night a week, ask other family members to lend a hand. And if someone asks if he or she can pitch in, don't be afraid to say yes! Get your copy of Caregiver's Handbook Close to 49 million informal or family caregivers offer assistance of all sorts to adults in America. Their efforts are vital to the lives of people struggling with illness, disability, or the changes that often accompany aging. This report will assist you in meeting the needs of the person you care for while attending to your own. It includes financial, legal, and medical information that’s vital to caregivers, as well as a special section devoted to caring for yourself as you navigate caregiving challenges. 2. Quell guilt: At times, you may feel like there's something more you should be doing, or something you should have done differently. Rather than ruminate on what could or should be, give yourself credit for all that you do. If feelings of guilt are especially strong, it can help to talk them over with a counselor or social worker. 3. Stay active: Frequent exercise delivers proven health benefits, such as lowering cholesterol and blood pressure — and it can be a powerful energy- and mood-lifter, too. Try to get 30 to 60 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. If that amount doesn't seem doable, don't worry — some exercise is always better than none. 4. Stay connected: Catch up with friends by phone or email, or plan weekly walks or a regular lunch or movie. Ask people to drop by and visit with you, or the person you're helping, so that you can take a break and feel connected with the world outside your caregiving role. 5. Relax and enjoy yourself: Listen to music you like, take a luxurious bath, dabble in creative pastimes, or even splurge on a massage. You can also learn meditation or other relaxation techniques through a class, tape, or book (yoga is a great relaxer as well). For more advice on caring for an aging family member or friend, buy Caregiver's Handbook, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. Share this story: News and Views from the Harvard Health Blog What is the magic sleep number? There is increasing evidence that America is becoming a country of chronically sleep-deficient citizens. According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of adults sleeping fewer than 6 hours per night has increased by 31% since 1985. Must-have high-tech tools for caregivers Image: iStock When you are caring for someone who is ill, elderly, or disabled, it's important to consider how you'll handle those times when you can't be with your loved one in person. Thankfully, today's technology offers options that can help you keep track of your loved one's safety and well-being. Most people are familiar with the emergency response system known as Lifeline. Experts call devices and systems like Lifeline "telecare." But there's much more to telecare than emergency assistance. Today, there are a multitude of telecare devices that can help you stay informed of your loved one's activities and needs in real time. The nearly ubiquitous cellphone has become an essential caregiving tool. It can store and transmit vital signs, provide reminders when a measurement or medication is due, or (in phones with GPS) serve as a tracking device if a person wanders away. Sensors worn on the body can automatically keep track of vital signs like heart rate and blood pressure. Other home sensors include devices placed on beds and refrigerators that can determine if and when a person is sleeping and eating. Still other devices dispense medications at predetermined times and give reminders to take the pills. And there's even a new, noninvasive technique to measure blood sugar levels using laser beams rather than needles, though this is still under development. This trend is even extending to home design. A program at Weill Medical College at Cornell University called Environmental Geriatrics focuses on the use of specialized features to create home interiors and products that keep seniors healthy and functioning well on their own. If you'd like to explore how technology could help you care for your loved one, talk with your geriatric care manager or doctor. She or he may be able to help point you toward appropriate resources. And for more on how to develop effective plans and strategies for caregiving, buy Caregiver's Handbook, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. Share this story: Featured in this issue Caregiver's Handbook Featured content: • Handling daily tasks and common problems • Developing a plan • Legal planning • Financial planning • Medical planning •  ... and more! Click here to read more » Harvard Medical School offers special reports on over 50 health topics. Visit our website at http://www.health.harvard.edu to find reports of interest to you and your family. PHONE ORDERS - please call our toll-free number: 1-877-649-9457. You are currently subscribed to HEALTHbeat as dr.samah.saied.ahmed@gmail.com. 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