Your Physical Health
Physical health can refer to your physical activity level, sleep cycle, diet, nutrition, and the level of consumption of alcohol or drugs. The demands on carers can be overwhelming and finding the time to look after your own physical health can be difficult.
However, it’s paramount that you look after yourself in order to care for your loved ones.
Keeping Well as a Carer
Download Carer’s Wellbeing Guide
How we help
Exercise
Nutrition and Diet
More Resources and Information
Groups and Events
Contact Wellbeing Practitioner
Hospital Hubs
Carers Grants
How Can We Help?
We run a range of groups which are a great way to keep you active and make new friends. You can find out about these by clicking the Groups and Events button.
You can also contact our Wellbeing Practitioner who can advise you about ways to improve your physical health and wellbeing.
Our Hospital Hubs provide a place where you can get lots of information and further support in person.
We also provide Carer’s Grants that can help you with financial support to do something that will help your physical and mental health and well-being as a carer.
Exercise
Adults should:
- aim to be physically active every day. Any activity is better than none, and more is better still
- do strengthening activities that work all the major muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms) at least 2 days a week
- do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity a week
- reduce time spent sitting or lying down and break up long periods of not moving with some activity.
In summary – get up and move! Walking is great, but moderate activity is when you get out of breath and can just about talk, therefore it needs to be more than a gentle stroll to count.
Exercising at Home
Here’s a short video about how exercising has helped these carers.
Nutrition and Diet
It is important to not only consider what you are doing on the outside of your body but also the inside. The NHS healthy eating information can be found here: Eat well – NHS (www.nhs.uk) and details on the Eatwell plate can be found here: The Eatwell Guide – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Eating Well
Tell Your GP
By telling your GP that you have taken on a caring role. Your GP will be able to advise you on relevant support for you and the person you care for.
Tell My GP
Annual Health Check
Whilst caring for someone else it is easy to neglect your own health. An annual health check could help identify early signs of of disease and help keep you healthy.
Health Check