()Many people will accept the responsibility of caring for their loved ones as they age. Caring for an older person can be time-consuming and reduce your ability to meet your own needs. Home Instead Senior Care found that 33% of family caregivers stated caring for aging loved ones makes it harder to care for oneself.

Home Instead urges caregivers to be aware of their feelings and to accept them. It can be difficult for loved ones or parents to see their loved one age. But, you don’t have to let it affect your own health. Family caregivers can feel guilty, anxious, or sad. 53 percent of family caregivers report feeling depressed.

This is why it is so important to strike a balance between your caregiving responsibilities, and your own personal needs. In an emergency situation, flight attendants insist that adult passengers have their own oxygen masks. Because they won’t have the strength to assist, the adult won’t be able help.

It’s similar to taking care of an older adult: it’s not selfish for you to look after yourself first, so that they are healthy enough to take good care of you.

Lakelyn HOGAN, Home Instead Senior care gerontologist and caregiver advocate, shares some tips with you to get over the pressures of being a caregiver for a loved one.

* Identify and accept feelings of guilt. Recognize that guilt can be a normal emotion. According to 85 percent of caregivers, such feelings can have a detrimental effect on your mental health.

* Find support. Talk to your friends and family to share your feelings. You can also find professional support groups. Talking about your emotions isn’t a sign that you are weak; it’s an indicator of self-care, awareness, and self-care. According to a 2015 study done by the National Alliance for Caregiving, and AARP, 34.2 Million Americans have provided unpaid assistance to adults 50 years or older. It is possible that they are going through the same thing you are.

* Be kind to yourself. Be proud that you’re doing your best and that you are trying to do the right thing. Guilt is a natural emotion for humans that can make it difficult to see the larger picture. You will soon forget the emotions you are feeling.

* Create an action plan. You might feel guilt if you take a moment to think about why. Are you preventing yourself from doing what you love or putting you in a bind with something you hold dear? Set a realistic goal and create a plan to help you get rid of some of the guilt.

* Make time for yourself. Although caregiving can be exhausting and time-consuming at times, it is important to remember what makes you unique, which should not be lost sight of. Take a walk with your loved one, have coffee with a friend, or check off the steps on your action plan. Just 30 minutes per day will make a big difference in your mental and physical health.

You are not alone in this. Take some time to yourself and rely on others for help.

Visit this site for additional resources and tips on caring for your loved ones. www.caregiverstress.comContact your local Home Instead Senior Care Office or www.homeinstead.com.