Decision-making frequently falls upon caregivers as yet another responsibility that’s often met with worry. At some point, most family caregivers will need to make choices about their senior loved ones’ care that may affect where their parents live, who visits their homes, and how they’ll spend each day. Making challenging care decisions is difficult, but you can take these steps to alleviate some of the burden.
1. Consider What Your Parent May Prefer
Families should begin discussing their parents’ care preferences as early as possible. However, you may still have an idea of what your loved one might want if you haven’t covered specific topics. For example, your parent might have talked about wanting to age in place. You can use this type of information to guide your decisions.
Many seniors prefer aging in place over moving to assisted living facilities. If your senior loved one needs assistance to remain safe and comfortable while living at home, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading in-home care agency. Our dedicated in-home caregivers can assist with meal prep, bathing and grooming, exercise, medication reminders, and many other important tasks.
2. Take an Honest Look at Your Resources
You may also need to base your decisions on things such as your parent’s finances or how many people in your family are available to help. At this point, you may be considering hiring a caregiver, and your parent may have insurance, savings, and other resources that make it possible to age in place while receiving assistance. Your resources can also include your parent’s home and the potential to modify it to fit his or her needs.
3. Ask for Professional Recommendations
Some decisions can practically be made for you if you seek professional advice. Your loved one’s doctor might be able to give you an idea of what to expect with a certain health condition. Professional caregivers are also good at letting families know about how much seniors can do independently if they have the appropriate types of help at home. Relying on a professional’s advice can take a great deal of the burden off your shoulders.
A professional caregiver can be a fantastic source of information and encouragement for both you and your loved one. In Edmonton, respite care is a great help to many families. Caring for a senior loved one can be overwhelming at times, which puts family caregivers at risk for burnout. However, an in-home caregiver can take over your loved one’s care, allowing you the time you need to focus on your own health, maintain a full-time job, or care for other members of your family.
4. Make Decision-Making a Team Effort
You might be your loved one’s main caregiver, but it’s possible there are other people who have input to share in the decision-making process. Your sibling might have heard your parent talk about his or her preferences in the past, or your spouse might prefer you to take some time off from caregiving each week. Discussing these decisions with the people closest to you could reveal information you’re overlooking due to the stress you’re under.
5. Try Looking at the Bigger Picture
Some of the most challenging care decisions get easier when you consider how some of the issues your loved one is facing could be related. For example, a senior who’s often confused due to uncontrolled diabetes might rapidly get better if he or she has someone available to provide medication reminders and cook healthy meals. Fixing the larger problem could resolve many of the smaller ones that are complicating your decisions.
6. Take the Viewpoint that Things Will Change
When you’re responsible for someone you love, every decision can feel huge. However, it helps to remember you’re only one person operating from a place where you have only so much information. The decisions you make today will have an impact on your loved one’s life, but making the simplest choices possible allows room for change and makes it easier to readjust as time goes by.
One of the most important decisions you can make is whether and when to hire a caregiver for your loved one. If you’re the primary caregiver for a senior family member and are looking for professional home care service, Edmonton Home Care Assistance should be your top choice. Our dedicated and compassionate caregivers are committed to helping older adults manage their health and enjoy a higher quality of life in the golden years. Call one of our dedicated Care Managers today at (780) 490-7337 to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.