When Caregivers Bend Over

Caregivers bend over daily, so this is worth your attention.

This is not a metaphor for the overworked caregiver bending over backwards.

I’m an overworked caregiver, and I’m literally bending over on the job.

I bend over to pick up things my dad drops.

I bend over to put on my dad’s shoes and socks.

I bend over to pick up my dad toppled over.

I wish this was a Hop on Pop nursery rhyme, but I’m not getting any younger, and my dad’s conditions are getting worse this year.

Caregivers with Heart Conditions Beware

I’m a 35+ male caregiver who exercises too little.

When I bend over to lift my dad’s body weight off the floor, I act like ain’t no deal, but my heart needs a minute for a few to calm down.

Ain’t no big deal.

Sometimes when I stand back up from bending over, I get dizzy and light headed with mildly blurred vision for just a 5 or 10 seconds, where you’re dizziest as soon as you stand up then catch your wits back.

My mom is a 70+ caregiver who sometimes goes to the doctor to check her heart, but doesn’t tell me the results.

My mom’s doing 75% of the caregiving time, and 100% of the ADLs that get the caregiver bending down on all fours.

Not to mention general housework - cleaning urine from the bathroom floor OR grabbing fuzzy warmies (thanks, Mom)  from the back of the dryer.

Caregivers bend over daily, so this is worth your attention.

ADLs That Get You Bending Over or On All Fours

If you think about it, lots of the caregiver activities of daily living (ADLs) require bending over or getting on all fours.

Dressing my dad, showering, Number one and number two.

Getting my dad up from the chair, getting him up from bed, Getting him to the kitchen table - basically any time he’s gotta get from one position to another 

This stuff is really physically demanding! It strains your body. It strains your cardiovascular system. The strain can escalate to Red Zone if you don’t take care of yourself.

My hands and knees already feel the pain. And I take a deep breath.

I’m a 35+ caregiver, and I can’t imagine what my body’s gonna be telling me at 60+, 70+, 80+.

My scabbered lil heart goes out to y’all seniors who are also caregivers!

Practical Tips for Caregivers with Bad Hearts

My mom is right to see a doctor about her heart.

I see the signs, so I should see a doctor.

If you see the signs, you should see a doctor.

Graycare is NOT a doctor.

When your aging family member needs help, and you gotta bend over, stress your heart, and piddle around on your hands and knees.

This is what I’ve learned can help in the moment, to keep your heart rate steady and not pinch a nerve.

Think about how you move your body when bending over and standing up.

Think about how you are breathing when bending over and standing up.

1. Take a deep breath before bending over. Calm your body down for a few seconds to go in smooth sailing. Breath in slowly and exhale slowly. “Ready, dad? Let’s go!”
2. Don’t bend over too fast, Don’t stand up too fast. Quickly, jerky body movements make things snap. On the way back to a standing position is most important to take slow, because that’s when you’re at high risk of lightheadedness and dizzy tunnel vision.
3. Keep your back straight when you bend your knees. Go on YouTube and look up the proper way to lift something heavy. Do NOT use your spine as a sling to hoist weight up.
4. Use your legs to stand up. Don’t use your spine to hold the weight. Use your legs to hold the weight. Leg muscles are made for lifting. Lifting with your back and arms muscles puts more strain on the heart than lifting with your leg muscles.
5. Take break and know your limits. Listen to your body getting tired and short of breath, and do something about it right away, before it gets worse.

For caregivers who bend over every day, please be aware of your physical limitations and use breathing and body movement techniques to prevent heart strain and body breaks.