Three Things For You To Know As The New Caregiver Of An Elderly Loved One
If you are taking on the role of caregiver to an elderly person you care about, you might not be prepared for all of the responsibilities caregiving entails. Here are some things you need to know in order to provide effective care without becoming overwhelmed.
You Can Help Them Maintain Control
One of the most difficult things for someone who needs help is to maintain a sense of control over their life. Your elderly loved one may need a lot of help from you in order to do their daily activities, but you can help them maintain control by allowing them to make choices.
For instance, your loved one may not be able to walk to their closet and choose their own clothing for the day, but you can allow them to point out which clothes they want to wear.
You Should Talk to Other Caregivers
While you may know your loved one better than anyone, it can be helpful to get the opinions and advice of other people who are caregivers. They can offer suggestions about how to more easily move your loved one from place to place, or they can answer questions you might have about how best to encourage your loved one to eat. Talking to other people who know what you're going through can make caregiving easier for you.
You Need to Take a Break
Caregiving may not seem difficult at first, but over time, it can become taxing to spend so much time looking after someone else's needs, especially if you don't have anyone else around to help you.
Taking a break can help you avoid burn out. Be sure to schedule some time for you to do something you enjoy on your own. Enlist the help of family members or friends so that you can head to the movies or go shopping, for example. If you are concerned that your loved one won't have proper care, you can even work with a home care agency, such as Queen City Home Care, in the area who can send a nurse or another medical professional to be with them. Some agencies even offered extended respite care of a few days or weeks in case you want to go away for more than an hour or two.
Now that you know some things that can help you to be an effective caregiver, use the information in this article to do a good job. Be sure to get in touch with a home care agency to find out how they can help you continue to provide the best possible care for your elderly loved one.