Working as a family caregiver can be both stressful and rewarding. While you may face challenges during your caregiving journey, it’s important to ensure your senior loved one’s care needs are effectively met on a daily basis. Here are some ways you can be an incredible family caregiver so your loved one remains comfortable and content.
Anticipate Needs
Your loved one may be hesitant to voice his or her needs. While you may be unable to anticipate every concern, focusing on whether or not your loved one is hungry, cold, hot, in pain or ill, or needs to go to the bathroom can keep him or her happy. Try to be the first to ask if your loved one needs anything so he or she doesn’t feel uncomfortable initiating the conversation.
Sometimes seniors are more comfortable sharing their needs with professional caregivers, especially when it comes to sensitive issues such as bathroom activities. Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated senior home care, Roseville, CA, 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.
Encourage Socialization
Seniors sometimes experience loneliness and isolation, which may be the result of the inability to go out because of medical conditions or limited mobility issues. As a family caregiver, encourage socialization by inviting guests to the home for dinner, games, or conversation. In addition, organize outings to the shopping mall, zoo, sporting events, and restaurants so your loved one can enjoy seeing other people and places. Limited socialization can result in anxiety and depression and have a negative effect on cognitive function and existing medical conditions.
Avoid Judging
Many seniors who are ill or have cognitive deficits may do or say things that can be viewed as objectionable by some people. By maintaining a neutral attitude in the event your loved one acts out or has an episode of incontinence, you can avoid causing self-esteem issues and embarrassment. If you feel as though you’ve become increasingly impatient with your loved one, ask another family member to temporarily take your place as a caregiver or contact a home care agency to learn about respite care.
Being a caregiver for your loved one 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. Roseville 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.
Monitor Medication Side Effects
Another thing that would make you an incredible family caregiver is making sure you’re aware of potential side effects caused by medications. Both prescription and over-the-counter medications can lead to adverse reactions such as dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, drowsiness, and nausea. At the first sign of a medication-related adverse reaction, call your loved one’s physician. The doctor can determine if a medication is causing side effects and make the decision to either lower the dosage or recommend a different medication that’s less likely to cause adverse reactions.
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 Roseville 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. To hire a dedicated caregiver, call us at (916) 226-3737 today.