The average age of family caregivers is getting lower. Your decision to care for your aging grandparent is one that deepens your bond, yet there are some challenges you can expect to face along the way. Caring for someone else at this stage in your life means you might also be juggling school, work, and other family responsibilities. You can use these strategies to handle it all without getting overwhelmed.
Set Your Grandparent Up for Independence
Helping your loved one live as independently as possible frees up some of your time. You might need to move dishes to a lower or higher shelf so your loved one can easily reach them when preparing a meal. You can also purchase accessibility tools, such as buttonhooks, your grandparent can use to handle some daily tasks. Keep in mind that making the home as safe as possible also helps your loved one stay independent.
Maintain Your Social Ties
As a younger person, you might feel left out when you see your friends continue with their lives while you’re stuck at home. Make sure to arrange for respite care occasionally so you can get out in the world and make some memories. Whether you’re dating or want to go to your best friend’s wedding, spending time with other people is important for your mental health.
If you need time away from your caregiving duties to rest, work, or take care of personal obligations, a professional caregiver can be a wonderful source of support. Rocklin respite care professionals can assist seniors with a wide array of daily tasks, offering family caregivers the chance to focus on other personal responsibilities or take a break to prevent burnout. Whether it’s for a few hours a day or a few days a week, respite care is the perfect solution for family caregivers who are feeling overwhelmed.
Accept Help with Difficult Tasks
There are some tasks that are easier than others. While you might not mind making a few meals or washing your loved one’s clothes, you might draw the line at helping him or her bathe. Try to remember that it’s perfectly okay to want to help your loved one retain some level of privacy that keeps your relationship roles intact. This is an area where having a professional caregiver step in can help.
Learn about Your Loved One’s Condition
If this is your first time caring for a senior, you might not know what to expect. Trying to figure out if your loved one’s memory loss is normal or if his or her Alzheimer’s disease is going to get worse is challenging when you lack knowledge about common senior health conditions. Talk to a doctor and do some research so you understand how to best plan for your grandparent’s care.
There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to address if their families opt for professional senior care. You can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep your loved one safe and comfortable while aging in place.
Make Time to Just Have Fun Together
Spending time with your grandparent should be fun, but being a caregiver can make it start to feel like drudgery. Try to carve out time to just enjoy your time together. You might go for a walk or do a puzzle. You can also record your loved one’s history for future generations to read or watch. If necessary, delegate some of your chores so you have plenty of time to make this a special moment in both of your lives.
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 Rocklin 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. If you need professional home care for your loved one, reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (916) 226-3737.