Personal Care at Home Tips to Make Daily Routines Stress Free
After your dad’s stroke, he has to rely on you for a lot of his care needs. How do you deal with the stress this causes him and you? These five tips, like hiring personal care at home, make it easier.
Leave Time for Fun Activities
You’ve helped your dad get showered and dressed. He’s had breakfast. You’ve brushed and flossed his teeth. He’s ready to get his day started.
Make sure you’re not jumping right into routine chores. Take time to do something fun each day. Go for a walk in his yard or around his neighborhood. Get in the car and drive to a museum and explore the displays. Breaking up the routine is a good way to de-stress.
Engage in Yoga
Yoga is a great exercise for stretching and toning muscles and improving balance. It’s also very focused on breathing, and a deep cleansing breath helps relieve stress. Chair yoga will help him after his stroke.
Ask his physical therapist for advice on videos that aren’t too difficult for him.
Find Finger Food Recipes
Create a list of finger foods that are nutritious and manageable for your dad. If he can’t hold a fork, knife, or spoon yet, he may find it easy to hold a fish finger and get that to his mouth. He may have an easier time with finger sandwiches and potato wedges.
When he has food he can eat by himself, he’ll be happier. That helps reduce your stress.
Take Breaks When You Need Them
It’s been months since you went to dinner with friends. You and your spouse haven’t had a night alone in a year. It’s time to take a break. In fact, that break is long overdue. Take time for yourself. If you’re not taking a day off each week, you need to start.
If no one in your family can take over while you’re having a day or night off, arrange to have a professional caregiver provide respite care. Respite care providers help with personal care at home needs and companion care. Talk to an agency about your dad’s care needs and have the right caregiver available to help him get ready for bed.
Don’t Feel Guilty Admitting There Are Tasks You’re Not Comfortable With
It’s okay to admit that there are some care tasks you don’t want to do. If the idea of helping your dad after he uses the toilet is too much, it doesn’t make you a bad person for wanting someone else to help out. He may not want you to help him in the shower and becomes argumentative or combative. Respect his preferences.
Hire personal care at home aides to assist your dad with chores related to grooming and hygiene. You can focus your role as a family caregiver on the things that are less likely to make your dad uncomfortable. Talk to a personal care at home expert to learn more about prices and schedules.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Personal Care at Home in St. Peters, MO please contact the caring staff at Autumn Home Care, LLC today at 636-448-9347.
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