As life expectancy continues to rise around the world, so does the number of senior citizens who will someday depend on others to care for them when they can no longer care for themselves. Much of that care will fall to family members and close friends of seniors who want to stay in their own homes with some level of caregiving. At the top of the new caregivers agenda should be to create a caregiver support team.
Today we are going to look at what caregiver support may be needed when someone is caring for a loved one who is living in their own home or who has moved in with a family member. According to the National Alliance for Caregivers, 65.7 million caregivers make up 29 percent of the U.S. adult population and 31 percent of all U.S. households. Those numbers are expected to grow as the baby boomer wave heads into their mid-sixties.
Although most seniors prefer to live in their home as long as possible, having a caregiver help oversee their medical, physical, and financial needs often becomes a necessity. However, caregivers need to create a support system around them so that they can manage the care of their loved one(s) without burning out.
If you are the designated caregiver, here are some caregiver support tips to help you become adjusted to your new role:
Get organized as soon as possible. Before you even start your caregiver duties make sure you have your own life in order. Although some caregivers have to move in swiftly if a family member has a sudden need, others know far enough ahead of time to get their own affairs settled. You will want to concentrate on caring for your loved one and if you are as organized in your own life as you can be, your care giver duties will flow more smoothly.
Create a list. As soon as possible, start a bucket list of every type of assistance you think you may need and who can provide that help. List everyone who has volunteered to help including friends, family members, and neighbors. Don’t assume that you will not need their help; just write down their name and contact number because you really never know what situation will come up and that person may be the perfect one to help.
Sort the list into professional and nonprofessional resources. Keep a list of names, addresses and phone numbers for every doctor, hospital, laboratory, pharmacy, and specialist in one place with easy access. Keeping a typewritten list on a bulletin board is one way that any family member or close friend can get the information as quickly as possible, or keep a Rolodex file nearby. You should also include your parent’s church and pastor if they attend church, or have one listed that you feel comfortable with in case of an emergency. Also, have the local funeral home listed as well although that is a difficult concept to consider when you are just starting your care giver duties.
Keep a separate list of family members and friends including their address and contact information so that you can notify them of any situations that occur or update them regarding your loved one’s condition. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friends of your loved one appreciate receiving updates when a health emergency arises. If you already have the information gathered ahead of time, your job will be much easier or you can easily delegate the phone calls to others. Make sure you have your own friends listed as well. When you are in the midst of your caregiver duties, having these normally obvious contact numbers at hand will really help when you feel exhausted or alone.
Use modern communication techniques. I send detailed emails to my brother and sister when my father is in the hospital, or when he was in a rehab facility following a fall. We also communicate quite often by cell phone but when I want to leave a detailed message late at night, an email work well and I can send one email to as many family members and friends as I wish. One of my daughters prefers to receive a text message. Then, if she wants more information she will call.
A number of us are on Facebook and communicate that way. As of this writing, Facebook now has groups that members themselves can create. Our family now has its own so we can privately share information regarding my Dad that each of us can respond to – much like having a conversation only over a longer period of time. Anything that might be considered more of an emergency we handle through cell phones.
By creating your caregiver support list, you can see where you may lack certain contact numbers or even need to add another resource. Now that you have your professional and personal caregiver support resource lists at hand, you might want to provide copies to other family members, close friends, or trusted neighbors in case of an emergency or death. Caring for elderly parents is not for the faint at heart, but if you go into your new role knowing where your caregiver support is coming from, you will be able to focus your time and energy on your caregiver duties. If you desire further caregiver support information feel free to check out these resources.
0 responses so far ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.
Leave a Comment