A Lesson from Dolly Parton
Dear Caregivers,
I felt a pang in my heart when I heard about the passing of Dolly Parton. She not only was a “national treasure” and a spectacular entertainer and songwriter, but by all accounts she was also a warm, loving, and decent human being.
She was also a caregiver. She took care of her husband during a multi-year illness until he died in 2025. And in a recent video, she admitted that she wished that she had looked after herself more during that time. As she put it, “I let a lot of things go that I should have been taking care of.”
Parton’s message should be an inspiration to us all. As I emphasize in the book Take Your Oxygen First, if you don’t care for yourself, you risk losing the ability to care for others.
This challenge appears time after time in research confirming that caregivers report a higher level of stress, anxiety, and depression, and are prone to less sleep and high blood pressure and other heart issues. Caregiving is one of the world’s hardest roles to step into, and it can take its toll if you don’t strive to keep yourself healthy as much as you focus on maintaining the quality of life for your loved one. Don’t forget, your NAN Navigator is here to help you ways to making that happen.
Here is some more guidance on “caregiver self-care”:
Some Self-Care Actions YOU CAN DO Right Now!
An essential part of being a caregiver is caring for yourself. You have to make time to tend to yourself, no matter how much or little time you may have. Here are some ideas.
Building your Caregiving Mental Health Toolkit:
As a caregiver, you need a host of tools to help you cope and maintain your mental health. Here’s your toolkit.
Setting Boundaries as a Caregiver:
As a caregiver, it is essential that you remain committed to your personal boundaries, making sure that you give yourself time and space to address your personal needs for rest, relaxation, and fulfillment. This foundation for positive self-care is vital in improving your well-being. Here’s how to do it.
Best,
Rosemary D Laird, MD, MHSA
Founder and Chief Medical Officer
“It's not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It's necessary."
— Mandy Hale
