The way you treat your senior parent could boost his or her mood and lead to a better quality of life. You should always look for ways to make your loved one’s life more comfortable, even if it requires some major adjustments on your end. Here are some tips to help you be the best caregiver possible.
Maintain a Flexible Schedule
Your loved one might need you to come over and help out at odd hours during the day or night, which means you’ll need to have a flexible schedule. In some instances, you may need to take a short leave from work or ask your employer about telecommuting to allow you to be available for your loved one when he or she requires assistance with daily tasks such as meal prep, doctor visits, and medication management. If your siblings help out with your parent’s care, there may be times when they’re unable to relieve you of your duties, so you’ll need to stay over.
Being a caregiver can be extremely rewarding, but it can also feel overwhelming at times. Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing. If you’re caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide respite care. Dallas families who want to prevent burnout can turn to Home Care Assistance. One of our professional caregivers can assist your loved one at home while you take a nap, go to work, run errands, or go on vacation.
Be Patient
Great caregivers understand there will be good days and bad days, but regardless of your loved one’s health condition, you must remain patient. When you’re patient, your loved one may mirror this behavior instead of becoming angry, fearful, or confused. Patience can help you solve problems without putting your loved one’s care in jeopardy. If your parent is experiencing memory, hearing, or vision loss, among other conditions, remain patient and sympathetic. Remember that he or she has no control over these issues.
Sometimes seniors are more comfortable sharing their needs with professional caregivers than with close family members. Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated elderly home care, Dallas, TX, families can turn to Home Care Assistance. Our respite and live-in caregivers are expertly trained to assist seniors with a wide array of important tasks, including cooking, bathing, light housekeeping, and exercise.
Remain Trustworthy
Your loved one trusts you with valuable information, including medical records and financial statements. Keep your loved one’s medical history and diagnoses confidential unless he or she asks you to share these details with others. When handling your loved one’s finances, never disclose the amount of money he or she earns to other family members. Your parent trusts you to protect his or her valuables and personal information, especially if he or she needs help making decisions because of cognitive decline. Family caregivers who are trustworthy can help their loved ones feel more at ease.
Offer Encouragement and Creativity
Watching their health decrease and losing some of their abilities can cause seniors to withdraw from social activities and turn to isolation. The inactivity can also lead to a sedentary lifestyle. Isolation and inactivity can increase the risk of chronic stress, heart disease, depression, hypertension, and other health conditions. However, people who encourage their loved ones to keep living happy and active lives can make fantastic caregivers. Look for different ways to help your loved one remain socially and physically active, such as simplifying daily tasks, finding local events he or she might enjoy, and developing exercises or activities he or she can do regardless of health limitations. Good caregivers go above and beyond to help their loved ones adjust to the effects of aging.
The suggestions offered above can help you become a great caregiver, but it’s important to know your limitations as well. Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Dallas Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care. Call Home Care Assistance at (214) 363-3400 to learn more about our flexible and customizable senior care plans.