Senior Caregivers

Family Caregivers Need to Seek Help and Not Go It Alone

Being a caregiver for an aging parent or other loved one is an important and demanding responsibility. You can make a positive difference in the quality of life of your loved one by enabling him or her to continue living as independently as possible in the comfort of home.However, because your personal needs often become secondary to those of the person you care for, you can negatively affect your own health and well-being, if you try to provide all of the care on your own. This also will negatively affect your loved and others who depend on you—in your family, at work and in the community.

A caregiver should never go it alone, and should seek the assistance of others. Without help, and without a break now and then, you are likely to wear down from the stress, become irritable and end up providing less than quality care for your loved one.

Seek help from other family members, volunteers from a community organization or church, or a professional senior caregiver who works for an in-home care agency.

A professional caregiver will serve as your partner and work with you to establish a caregiving schedule that meets your and your loved one’s needs. To fit your needs, a professional caregiver can provide as little as a few hours of service a week to full-time, 24-hour care and offer flexibility that will allow you to take a vacation.

An in-home senior caregiver can help clients with personal care needs, such as bathing, toileting and grooming, light housekeeping and meal preparation and other activities of daily living. Another key role of the caregiver is companionship, which enhances a senior’s emotional and mental health and quality of life. A caregiver can engage a senior in conversation and reminiscing, exercise such as a walk in the neighborhood, outings to favorite places such as a senior center or church, favorite pastimes and hobbies, and activities that are mentally-stimulating such as puzzles.

Look for an in-home care agency that uses a thorough process for screening, conducting background checks, interviewing, hiring and training caregivers. Also choose a home care provider that strives to match each client with a caregiver who has compatible personality and interests—to help assure a positive, enriching experience that will promote your loved one’s quality of life and health.