How To Support A Senior Caregiver In Your Family
According to the National Alliance for Caregiving more than 50 million people in the US are providing unpaid care for a senior loved one or a loved one with a health condition. November is National Family Caregivers Month. That means now is the perfect time to learn more about how to support the people in your family who are providing care for a family member.
If you have a sibling or other relative that is providing care for a senior loved one because you live too far away to help with that care there are things that you can do to help support the relative that is providing care. Making sure that the caregiver is supported is the best way to make sure that your senior loved one gets the care that they need and that your relative doesn’t experience caregiver burnout or compassion fatigue. Some things that you can do to help include:
Call And Video Chat
If you can’t be there in person to help take care of a senior loved one you can call on the phone or use video chat to talk with your senior loved one. If you are on the phone or video chatting with your senior loved one it gives the caregiver time to get a cup of coffee, use the restroom, shower, or do other things that they can’t do at other times. By keeping your senior loved one entertained and engaged you are taking some of the responsibility off the caregiver for a few minutes.
Senior Home Care
Paying for a senior home care provider to help care for your senior loved one is a generous way to help a family caregiver. A senior home care provider who visits a few days each week for eight or so hours gives your family caregiver the extended time off they need to care for their own families, run errands, and take care of themselves. Helping out by hiring a senior home care provider is a fantastic way to help your family when you can’t be there to help in person.
Provide Emotional Support
You also can help your family caregiver by providing emotional support for them. It’s very difficult emotionally and physically to take care of a senior parent, especially if they need a lot of physical help or have dementia. Make sure your family caregiver knows that you are available to listen when they need to vent or need some emotional support. Whenever they call answer the phone and be as supportive as you can.
Take Some Tasks Off Their Plate
While your family caregiver is taking care of your senior loved one their own homes, families, careers, and responsibilities are on the back burner. Help them out by taking some of those tasks off of their plates. Arrange for a meal service to deliver dinner a few nights each week. Or hire a local house cleaner to clean your family caregiver’s home on a regular basis. Do whatever you can to take some of the chores off their plate so that the caregiver can relax in the time off that they do have.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Senior Care in Ballwin, MO please contact the caring staff at Autumn Home Care, LLC today at 636-448-9347.
Source:
- Senior Home Care Tips to Prevent Bed Sores - November 3, 2023
- Understanding Personal Care at Home - October 19, 2023
- Home Care Assistance Tips for Long Distance Caregiving - October 2, 2023