Balancing Life as a Caregiver to Reduce Risk of Burnout

It can be very rewarding to care for your aging parent and give back, knowing you are helping them to live more independently, comfortably, and safely. But it can also be stressful trying to balance your own work and family life with the needs of your loved one and ensure that everything is getting done. Taking on too much responsibility can lead to burnout and leave you less able to provide the care and attention that your loved one needs. Proper planning can help you to achieve better balance without sacrificing your wellbeing or that of others.

Ask for Help

You don’t have to try to do everything on your own. Coordinate with family members or close friends to take turns visiting your senior, taking them grocery shopping, or accompanying them to appointments. If distance or time is an issue, hire in-home care to provide assistance, companionship, and support for your loved one. They can help with a wide variety of tasks to ensure your senior’s safety, wellbeing, and independence. In addition, working with a financial planner can reduce stress when it comes to money management and finances.

Plan Ahead

Coordinate documents for power of attorney and end of life planning before your aging parent’s health declines. This ensures that you know their wishes and have the legal authority to make decisions on their behalf should they become unable to do so on their own. Planning ahead can reduce the stress of decision making and lets your loved one know that they still have a say and their wishes are heard.

Make Time for Yourself

In the midst of planning care for your senior and shuttling your family around, take the time to plan time for yourself. Spend time with your friends, get your hair or nails done, plan a weekend getaway, or engage in other activities that help you to unwind. It is important that you are feeling your best and not overlooking your own happiness in your effort to care for everyone else.

Periodically Reassess Your Senior’s Needs

As time passes, make sure you continue to check in with your aging parent so you can stay on top of their mental and physical health. Make sure that their home is still a safe location and they can get around okay and that the level of support they are receiving meets their needs. You may find that in order to reduce some of the burden you feel, it is necessary to increase the frequency or level of in-home care they receive.  This can help you to feel more confident that they are safe and well taken care of as they age in place and that their needs are being met.

Being a caregiver is a lot of responsibility but it does not have to wear you down. There are many resources available and strategies you can put in place to ensure that your loved one is being cared for while also giving you time to focus on your family and yourself.

Veterans Day: Honoring the Veterans in Your Life

November 11 is Veterans Day, a day set aside to recognize those who have served in the Armed Forces. It is a day to honor those men and women who have fought to protect our country and our freedom. Whether you have loved ones who are veterans or simply want to honor the many veterans throughout the country, there are many ways in which to pay tribute and respect.

• Partake in a local celebration: Many communities hold parades, breakfasts, dinners, or other festivities in honor of veterans. Take your senior to be a part of gatherings and celebrate with the community. If they are a veteran, allow them to be recognized for their service and socialize with others who have shared similar experiences or who are grateful for their dedication.
• Visit a museum, memorial, or battlefield: If you live in an area that is home to one of these national or historic sites, it can be a great way to spend the day together. Children can learn more about the battles that took place and the events that help to shape our country. Your loved one can share their personal insight and memories about these events for an even more enriching and meaningful experience.
• Send cards or care packages: Drop a note or small gift in the mail to let your loved one know that you are thinking about them. You can also work together to assemble a care package for military personnel who are currently deployed. A genuine note of thanks and gratitude can go a long way in brightening up a veteran or active military personnel’s day.
• Take the time to listen and learn: If your loved one is a veteran and feels up to talking about their experiences, listen to them as they share. Ask questions and learn more about their service and how they were impacted. This can be a great way for children to get a better glimpse of history and connect with grandparents or other seniors. However, some veterans may not want to talk about their past, so it’s important not to make them feel pressured.

Veterans Day can be a great way to start meaningful conversation and develop a better appreciation for the country and its history. Take the time to thank the veterans in your life for their service and for defending our country and freedom. Even those who did not serve probably know someone who did or can remember these moments in history. Show your respect and gratitude by getting involved this year and doing something special.

Helping Your Senior to Manage their Diabetes

Diabetes can occur at any age but can become more difficult to manage as people get older. As overall health, mobility, and mental alertness decline, it can be challenging to maintain control over diabetes. If blood sugar is not well controlled, it can lead to other serious issues. Working with your loved one to better manage their health can help prevent complications and enhance their wellbeing.

Make sure they have supplies and know how to use them. Check in with your loved one periodically to make sure that they have enough supplies to check their blood sugar and insulin to help control it. Ensure that they know when and how to use equipment, what acceptable ranges for their blood sugar are, and how to determine how much insulin they need when necessary. Writing down their blood glucose levels can help to track any issues or concerns.

Create healthy meals together. Just because they have diabetes does not mean that they can’t enjoy some of their favorite foods. They just have to monitor what they are eating and know how it affects their diabetes. Try new recipes and work with them to create healthy options that help to keep their blood sugar in check and still taste great. You can always make extras and freeze them for fast, simple meal choices. Make sure they know how much of each food group they should be eating and how it affects their blood sugar.

Encourage exercise. Staying active can help regulate blood sugar and is also beneficial for overall health and mobility. Go for walks together, sign them up for an exercise class, or come up with simple routines they can do at home.

Arrange in-home care. An in-home caregiver can help with meal preparation, medication, grocery shopping, physical activity, and more. They can provide companionship and ensure your loved one is following proper guidelines for managing their diabetes. If issues or concerns should arise, they can alert you to these problems or get your loved one help in an emergency.

Keep up with exams. Diabetes can affect various parts of the body. Make sure to schedule regular vision and dental exams to identify and treat problems early on. Check their feet for signs of sores, infections, calluses, or blisters. If not monitored, they can lead to more serious problems. Other exams can check for kidney health, cholesterol, and average blood glucose level. This can help the doctor to determine a more effective course of action and help your senior to maintain optimal health.

Talk to your loved one about their diabetes and ensure that they understand the importance of taking good care of themselves. Work together to create routines and reminders that help them to stay on top of things and make healthier decisions. Encourage them to speak up if they notice any changes, even if they seem minor. Being proactive can help them to better protect their health.

Signs your Senior Could Benefit from In-Home Care

Many people enjoy the comfort and familiarity of their own home as they age. Aging in place has become common and allows seniors to retain much of their independence. However, as they get older and encounter more health issues, it may be necessary to provide some assistance. In-home care can be an effective way of providing your senior with the help they need while allowing them to stay in their own home for as long as possible.

Recognizing the signs that more care is needed can help you to remain proactive and keep your senior safe. In-home caregivers can provide a wide range of services that give your senior the support they need while enabling them remain fairly independent. Here are some signs that could indicate it is time to consider seeking an in-home care program:

• Decreased mobility
• Confusion or memory loss
• Weight loss
• Missing appointments
• Loneliness or depression
• Trouble maintaining personal hygiene
• Not keeping up with housework
• Vision problems
• Forgetting to take medication or not taking it properly

Home Care

A caregiver can help with basic chores around the home and keeping the house in order to reduce risk of falls. Making simple repairs and changing lightbulbs or batteries in smoke detectors can enhance safety measures. They can take your senior shopping for groceries and help with simple meal preparation to ensure they are getting the right nutrition and eating properly.

Health and Wellbeing

When it comes to their health, the caregiver can provide transportation to and from appointments, make sure that medication is taken as prescribed, and be alert for any changes in their physical or mental wellbeing. Sometimes limited mobility can make it more difficult to complete certain tasks but doesn’t necessarily mean that your senior shouldn’t be living on their own. In-home care can assist them with these activities.

Companionship

It can also be nice for your senior to have some companionship. Someone to eat dinner with, play games or go to community events with, and talk to. This can help to ward off depression and loneliness because they know that someone will be there to check in on them and spend time with them. Family members can have business schedules and may not be able to visit as frequently as they would like, so having another person who is available can relieve stress.

Talking to your Senior

Bringing up the idea of in-home care can be a sensitive subject. Talk to your senior about the challenges or changes you have been noticing and how a caregiver could help in these areas. They would still be able to remain in their home and keep their independence, just with some support. Be respectful and work with them to determine how much assistance they may need. Help keep you senior safer as they age in place by finding an in-home care provider that can work with your senior’s needs and lifestyle by providing the assistance they require.

Celebrating Halloween with your Senior

The holidays are perfect occasions to spend quality time with your aging parent and have fun. Halloween is just around the corner and provides many opportunities for family activities. Your senior may be hesitant to spend the evening alone if they don’t feel safe or comfortable with trick-or-treaters coming around. Or their mobility may make it more difficult to get to and from the door repeatedly or to decorate. Here are a few ideas for making Halloween memorable this year:

Trick-or-Treat together. Invite your loved one over to go trick-or-treating with the grandchildren. Make sure that they are able to keep up and are comfortable and safe walking along in the dark. You can also man the door together and hand out candy to children that stop by. Seeing the kids in costumes and having fun can bring back wonderful memories.

Decorate festively. You can decorate your home or theirs or both. Pick out some simple, safe décor to help everyone get in the spirit. You could also spend time making some decorations together and getting the grandchildren involved as well. This can provide them with some homemade keepsakes that they can use for following years.

Have a party. Host a small get-together or take your senior along to a party. You can enjoy the evening together talking and celebrating with friends. It can be a nice change for them to get out and socialize. They can help to make Halloween-themed treats and pick out a costume of their own. Just make sure that it doesn’t pose any safety concerns, such as making it more difficult to walk or see.

Watch a movie. If you are looking for a more low-key evening, gather together and watch a spooky movie. There are many great family friendly movies for Halloween. You can also ask your senior what their favorite one is and bring back old memories. Let them reminisce about celebrating Halloween when they were younger and the things they used to do.

Use this time to create new memories, carry out old traditions, and enjoy each other’s company. If you can’t be with your senior, try to arrange to have a friend, neighbor, or caregiver visit with them. This can ensure that they are not alone and help them to make the most of the evening. It can give them companionship if they decide to hand out candy and help improve their safety overall. Whether your senior is looking for a quiet evening at home or to be more active and involved, there are plenty of options for celebrating together.