What if you were hired for a job that involved what seemed like a clear set of duties only to discover your actual responsibilities could vary greatly from one day to the next? This is the discovery most caregivers soon make. If you’re assuming the role of caregiver as an act of love for an older family member, there are a few things you need to know about being a caregiver.
1. You’re Going to Need Some Help
Many caregivers assume it’s a one-person job. While this is sometimes the case, you’ll most likely require some help from a professional caregiver to meet your loved one’s care needs without getting burned out in the process, especially if your loved one has a progressive condition like Alzheimer’s.
Without the right assistance, Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors and their families to manage. If you’re looking for professional Alzheimer’s care, Edmonton Home Care Assistance provides high-quality care aging adults and their families can count on. All of our hourly and live-in caregivers are trained to help seniors with Alzheimer’s live happier and healthier lives, and we also provide specialized dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
2. Embarrassing Moments Shouldn’t Be Taken Too Seriously
Depending on what conditions your loved one has, he or she may have inappropriate outbursts, laugh at improper times, become afraid for no apparent reason when in public, or become argumentative during a family dinner. While such moments are unexpected, they shouldn’t be cause for alarm or make you feel embarrassed for yourself or your loved one. Most people witnessing such behaviors will be understanding about them.
3. Your Loved One Wants to Be Treated Like an Adult
Well-meaning family members often assume caring for an elderly loved one is like caring for a child. What they often fail to realize is their loved ones probably don’t want to be treated like children. While your parent may have difficulty hearing or experience occasional memory lapses and periods of confusion, he or she is still worthy of your respect and deserves to be treated with dignity.
Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of elderly home care. You can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide an individualized care plan to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
4. You May Unintentionally Sacrifice Your Loved One’s Quality of Life
If your loved one develops serious medical issues, you may lapse into the habit of doing everything possible to extend his or her life, unintentionally sacrificing quality of life in the process. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make every effort to keep your loved one as healthy and comfortable as possible. What it does mean is that you should have a discussion with your loved one about his or her end-of-life preferences regarding medical treatment and long-term care.
5. You’re Likely to Form a Closer Bond with Your Loved One
While you can expect some ups and downs during your time spent as a family caregiver, you can look forward to some unexpected rewards as well. Since you’ll be spending more time with your loved one, you’ll likely form a closer bond with him or her, possibly developing new insights into your loved one’s life and maybe even learning a few things you never knew.
Caring for a senior loved one can be rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming. Edmonton in-home care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently. If your loved one needs professional home care, Home Care Assistance is here to help. To hire a compassionate, dedicated caregiver, call us at (780) 490-7337 today.