Caregiving is a learning process and no two situation are going to be exactly alike. Your approach to tackling your responsibilities will make a big difference in the level of stress or frustration you feel. Staying organized while providing elderly care can help relieve a great deal of stress.

The organization process for each person is different. What one person may consider organized, another person will find it messy. Regardless of the differences, making changes can be helpful.

The following are 5 suggestions for organizing a caregiver’s typical daily routine:

1. Eliminate clutter

Organization of medical paperwork and equipment early on can save you the frustration of having to search for things in the event of an emergency or when calling the physician’s office. It doesn’t need to be a sophisticated system but one that makes sense to you is what matters.

2. Keep a journal of the care recipient’s needs

Doing this daily could be a time saver during an emergency. It also helps in the event that care of your loved one should suddenly need to be transferred to someone else.

3. Be ready for emergencies

Not only do you have to keep medical emergencies in mind but have a plan in place in case of a natural disaster.

4. Use a calendar

It is helpful to use a calendar specifically for your loved one’s appointments and other engagements. Having one place to look for information on upcoming events can save you the frustration of trying to remember where you might have written something down.

5. Set up medications

Elderly care providers can use containers that represent each day of the week or month to set up your loved one’s medications. Keep the schedule the same time every day for dispensing medication. Have a one week reserve of medication on hand in case bad weather or illness prevents you from picking up a prescription. You can also use an electronic calendar to remind you.

There are several products on the market that can help you better organize your daily routine or that can make a certain task easier for you or your loved one. Search the internet for information about products used for elderly care. Getting and staying organized is the best approach to providing quality care to a loved one. Being organized will save you time and alleviate stress.

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Donna Wrabel, LMSW

Co-Owner at At Your Side Home Care

For most of us, the word "home" evokes warm feelings of comfort, security and well-being. For older adults, home also means holding tight to cherished memories and maintaining self-esteem and independence. When illness, injury or age make life a little more challenging, remaining at home in a comfortable, familiar environment encourages recovery and enhances the quality of life. Home can be defined as a private residence, an independent or assisted living facility or even a short term stay in the hospital, we recognize the additional benefits provided by a personal, professional assistant.

Our Certified Nurse Aides, 24-Hour Live-in Assistants and Home Health Aides are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide the security and confidence of 24-hour Telephone Assistance, so fast, reliable help is always available when it's needed. To learn more about our homecare services see our homecare services page.

Different people need different levels of homecare. To meet the requirements of our clients, At Your Side Homecare maintains consistent staffing levels of caring professionals. Homecare service is available for as little as a few hours a week, or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week

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