COVID-19 has affected nearly every aspect of our lives, including work, social interaction and hobbies. Many people are finding themselves isolated in their homes, unable to see their loved ones in person, not exercising as frequently and unable to meet occupational and financial obligations. Isolation takes away many of the aspects of our lives that we rely upon to help foster our mental health. It’s important to not forget about self-care and caring for loved ones who may suffer from memory disorder.
Broward Health North clinical neuropsychologist Thomas Crum, Ph.D., spends a lot of his day-to-day work assessing memory and cognitive function for older adults at the Memory Disorder Center at Broward Health North. When his patients, family and friends ask him for advice on adapting to this “new “normal,” especially for those who are caregivers of a family member, he advises focusing on self-care first and the rest will follow.“I recommend to those around me to attempt to make this new normal as healthy – both physically and mentally – as they can for everyone involved,” he said, suggesting dusting off hobbies that might have been put on hold. “For a lot of us, many of the activities and resources we used for self-care have been lost. For example, because of an inability to see my friends, I have begun to do drive-by visits to my friends and my children’s friends’ houses, making sure to wear our masks and conversing in their yards while remaining at least six feet apart.”
Additional self-care options include:
• Scheduling time to exercise every day. There are recent articles discussing how exercise can be extremely helpful in reducing anxiety and depression in the best of times, and even more so now.
• Scheduling family-time every day in person or via video. Each of your loved ones is experiencing a similar situation. Even a brief conversation can bring a smile to their (and your) face and let them know that they are loved.
• Engaging in a hobby is an opportunity to relax your mind. There is a reason why bicycle shops and guitar shops are sold out. Many people are finding that the extra time afforded by quarantine has allowed them to pursue a hobby they never thought they could enjoy.
Also be aware that there are resources available if you find you are struggling. The Memory Disorder Center at Broward Health North offers psychotherapy for anxiety and depression, as well as care for those who are experiencing memory loss and support for their caregivers. The Center has nurses and family counselors available to assist with medical management, behavioral management and support groups.