Caregiving may feel like venturing into uncharted territory, since no two seniors have the same care needs. This means you must sometimes make decisions without being fully certain they’re the right ones. While being responsible for your senior loved one’s care can be stressful, these tips can help you make sound decisions that are beneficial for everyone involved.
Take Your Time
When faced with a big decision regarding your loved one’s health, it may feel like you’re pressured to come up with a solution right away. However, barring a medical emergency, you usually have some time to decide. Taking some time to contemplate your options can help you relax and avoid making a decision based on your first reaction to a stressful event.
Caring for senior loved ones can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Align Home Care Services for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
Seek a Medical Opinion
As a family caregiver, you may be thrust into situations you don’t know how to handle. For example, you may be unsure of whether or not your loved one with Alzheimer’s can live independently. Speaking to your loved one’s nurse or doctor can provide valuable information about the abilities of a person with your loved one’s health condition.
A professional caregiver can also be a fantastic source of information and encouragement for both you and your loved one. Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs live-in care, Portland, ME, Align Home Care Services 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.
Weigh the Pros & Cons
Getting out a pad of paper and pen and writing can help you purge the worst thoughts from your mind. Create a classic T-chart and make a list of the potential benefits and drawbacks of your decisions. As you do so, think about whether any of the drawbacks would be permanent. For example, hiring a caregiver might temporarily make your loved one uncomfortable, but over time, he or she could adjust and even enjoy the visits.
Consult with Family
If you’re fortunate to have others assisting with your loved one’s care, their opinions can be valuable. Hold a meeting to explain the current situation you’re facing, and ask your family members for feedback on how they would handle it. Knowing other people agree with your decisions can give you reassurance.
Review the Effects
After you’ve made a decision about your loved one’s care, it’s always best to look back and review how well it has worked. For example, if you were nervous about hiring a caregiver, you may feel better when you see your loved one is thriving as a result. Over time, seeing how your decisions worked out can help you be more confident about making them in the future.
One of the most important decisions you can make is whether to hire a home caregiver for your loved one. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care service. Portland families can rely on Align Home Care Services to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. If your loved one needs assistance with the challenges of aging, reach out to one of our knowledgeable, compassionate Care Managers today at (207) 835-3490.