It’s common for family caregivers to work full-time, care for their aging parents, and handle other family duties. Without a good plan in place, the challenges can cause burnout and various health problems. Below are some tips caregivers can use to balance caring for a senior loved one with other essential family roles.
1. Be Present
When you’re caring for your loved one, give that role your undivided attention. If you’re helping your children with homework or attending a group function with a sibling, focus on those specific situations. Being present allows you to handle each commitment with ease and prevent errors that could put you or your loved ones at risk. Focusing solely on one thing can reduce your anxiety levels and boost your confidence.
Hiring a professional caregiver can ease many of your worries about balancing all your family roles. If you’re the primary family caregiver for an elderly loved one and need additional assistance providing high-quality in-home care, Home Care Assistance can help. We are a leading home care agency committed to changing the way seniors age.
2. Communicate with Everyone
Communicating is one of the most important parts of being a caregiver, spouse, or parent. It will always help to be honest, respectful, and reliable. Poor communication could be devastating for your loved one and others in your family. For example, when you’re running late after a school meeting, it would be thoughtful to call and let others know. While it seems simple, good communication can alleviate stress and increase safety for family caregivers.
3. Space Out Responsibilities
Even with excellent planning, things won’t always turn out how you might like, and it could cause chaos when you’re balancing all your family roles. By creating a realistic schedule and properly spreading out your duties, you can avoid mishaps and give yourself enough time to regroup between performing various functions. For instance, if you take your loved one to the doctor in the morning, don’t schedule any other activities or errands until the afternoon or the next day. Never plan multiple strenuous activities on the same day. Instead, space the duties out based on your mental and physical health, free time, and preferences.
Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Clearwater home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Home Care Assistance is here to help.
4. Practice Self-Care
Without adequate energy and good mental health, you cannot provide high-quality care to your parent. Therefore, you should always practice self-care and make time to do things you enjoy. These activities and social interactions can take your mind off caregiving, parenthood, and any other significant family role you perform. Good self-care also includes visiting the doctor, dentist, and other medical professionals for checkups. Your health should be a top priority, regardless of the commitments you have at home.
5. Get Help
Asking family and friends to assist with some of your duties could make life less challenging. For instance, if you need help with your loved one’s care, it would be beneficial to ask your siblings for assistance or hire a respite caregiver. When it relates to your children, ask your spouse to help out more or delegate some of the duties to an older child. Another way to balance family roles is to reach out to supportive family members and close friends who can help you develop schedules and divide responsibilities.
Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs live-in care, Clearwater, FL, Home Care Assistance can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home. Call Home Care Assistance at (727) 330-7862 to learn more about our flexible and customizable senior care plans.