If you have recently become a caregiver for an aging loved one, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed. What should you do? What should you not do? There are so many things to think about, so many things to be aware of, that it can be very stressful!
Fortunately, though, you are not alone. There are many people out there in the world who feel exactly like you do. For you and for them, here is a quick list of some dos and don’ts that will hopefully make caregiving easier for you and your family.
- Do encourage your loved one to maintain some of their independence – Some elderly men and women don’t love the idea of being taken care of by their sons or daughters. So, some compromise might be a good idea! Instead of treating them like a child, treat them like a parent who just needs a little help. Ask them if they would like you to help them get dressed before you jump in and start buttoning buttons, and ask them if they would like you to help them around the house before you do it. Maintaining open communication like this can help everyone feel important, and less stressed.
- Don’t forget medications – One of the reasons why you have become the family caregiver is likely due to the fact that your loved one is ill, or has become forgetful. On their own, they might forget to take their medications, so you have to remember for them. You can serve as their memory, and remind them when it is time to take their pills.
- Do ask for help if you need it – Caregiving is a big job, so don’t feel bad if it makes you feel overwhelmed! Ask the rest of your family to pitch in, or, if this isn’t enough, consider hiring a home care aide. Asking for help doesn’t mean you are any less capable or respectable, it just means that you know how to delegate, and how to find the best way to get things done.
- Don’t forget to take time for yourself – Again, caregiving is stressful. You might feel like your aging parent is your entire world. You take care of them from morning until night, and then some. But don’t forget that you have a life too. Constantly caring for others without taking care of yourself leads to stress, and stress leads to health problems. How can you take care of the health needs of someone else if you yourself are unhealthy? Try to find some balance in your life, or at least schedule a few minutes a day to just breathe, relax, decompress, and just focus on yourself.
If you follow these simple tips, you will be surprised how much easier caregiving becomes. Much of caregiving is assisting your aging loved one with their daily tasks, but a lot of it also involves keeping up their morale. In order to keep up their morale, though, you must keep up your own, so be sure to really take the last “don’t” in this list seriously!
If you or an aging loved one are considering caregivers in River Oaks, TX, please call the caring staff at At Your Side Home Care. We will answer all of your senior care questions. Call today: (832) 271-1600.
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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