Family caregivers can be said to wear many hats over the course of even a single day. In fact, it’s almost impossible to list all the things caregivers do to help their senior loved ones. The typical family caregiver generally serves in these roles that encompass many different duties.
Assist with Household Tasks
Most caregivers start out just doing a few things around the house for their loved ones. You might sweep the floor during a visit or arrive with a few bags of groceries. Over time, this role will change to include handling more duties. Meal preparation, bill paying, and household maintenance chores are all common things for a family caregiver to handle. Eventually, you may need to delegate some of these tasks to prevent caregiver burnout.
If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of senior care. Rocklin Home Care Assistance provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
Protect Seniors from Harm
This essential role includes doing things to keep seniors from getting hurt or sick. You might need to arrange your loved one’s home to prevent slip-and-fall accidents. Other seniors might need help remembering to take their medications. If your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease, you may also need to prevent wandering and look out for general safety around the home.
Manage Personal Care
Caregiving is a very hands-on job. You may be needed to help with bathing, toileting, and dressing your loved one. Make sure to talk to your loved one about his or her preferences regarding these parts of the day. If either of you feels uncomfortable, this is one of your roles that can be delegated to a professional.
Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional in-home caregivers who provide high-quality elder care. Trust Home Care Assistance to help your elderly loved one age in place safely and comfortably.
Oversee Healthcare Arrangements
Advocacy is an important part of being a family caregiver. At some point, you may be called upon to help your loved one ask his or her doctor questions or request a second opinion. Seniors sometimes need their loved ones to stand up for them and insist on tests being done or let doctors know certain symptoms aren’t normal. You may also need to set appointments for healthcare visits and make sure your loved one has safe transportation to the facilities.
Provide Mental & Emotional Support
A large part of your duties will include helping your loved one take care of his or her cognitive abilities and stay emotionally strong. You’ll need to plan activities to do together that require thinking and problem-solving. Reading books, doing puzzles, and playing board games can also serve as distractions from your loved one’s worries. While serving in this role, you may also need to watch out for signs of depression or anxiety that need treatment by a professional.
Bridge Social Connections
You cannot be your loved one’s only source of social support. Yet he or she may not know how to make new friends at this stage in life or may have physical or mental challenges that make it difficult to socialize. When this is the case, you may need to step in and help your loved one connect with a new caregiver and reach out to other people in your family for social contact.
For families living in Rocklin, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home. Call us today at (916) 226-3737 to discuss how we can give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing your loved one is being cared for with professionalism and compassion.