6 Suggestions for a New Family Caregiver to Consider

Stepping into the role of caregiver is a huge change in your relationship with your senior loved one. Family caregivers often view it as an honor to provide care for someone special in their lives, yet you might also feel thrust into the role if your loved one has had a sudden health crisis. Whether you’ve been planning for this moment for years or are still trying to adjust to the new lifestyle, you can use these tips to be successful as a family caregiver.

1. Learn Everything You Can about Your Loved One’s Condition

Family caregivers come from all walks of life, and you might have no idea how to guide someone through stroke recovery or cancer treatment. Alzheimer’s care is especially challenging when you don’t have experience helping people with memory loss. You don’t need a degree to become a family caregiver, but it can help to brush up on the basics regarding your loved one’s main health conditions.

2. Develop a Reasonable Routine

Becoming a family caregiver can temporarily throw your life out of balance, and creating a routine gives you more control over what happens each day. Take a look at your loved one’s care needs and try to create a general schedule for when to do each task. While the routine may change over time, sticking to a schedule can help you and your loved one stay on top of everything that needs to get done each day.

3. Promote Healthy Living Habits for Everyone

Usually, people become family caregivers after major shifts in their loved ones’ health. Now, your loved one’s medical team might be recommending that your parent make dietary changes, exercise more, and reduce stress. These are also great suggestions for you to embrace as a caregiver, and making these changes together can boost the health of everyone in your family.

Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional home care. Miami Beach, FL, Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.

4. Explore How Technology Can Ease Your Worries

Technological advances have made caregiving easier, and there are multiple devices available that can help you manage your new concerns. Seniors with hearing loss might benefit from fire alarms that flash lights or send vibrations through their pillows. You can also find appliances that automatically shut off to reduce the risk of fires. GPS tracking devices come in wearable forms that can help caregivers find loved ones with dementia if they wander away from home.

5. Create a Diverse Support System

Every family caregiver should have several people he or she can turn to for support. Having family members share the responsibility of caregiving is a good place to start, but you’ll also want to add some professionals to your team. Professional home caregivers won’t bristle at your requests for help with difficult tasks, and they provide a great solution for handling scheduling conflicts among your family members. You’ll also want to connect with your loved one’s health care providers, who can advise you as you settle into your role.

Consider hiring a professional caregiver if your loved one needs help with daily tasks or you need a break. Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated Miami Beach home care service, you can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care. Our respite and live-in caregivers are expertly trained to assist seniors with a wide array of important tasks, including cooking, bathing, light housekeeping, and exercise. 

6. Establish a Burnout Prevention Plan

If jumping into your role has you running on adrenaline, you might need to take a step back and consider what will happen when all the newness wears off. Caregiver burnout develops over time, but there are things you can do to prevent it from happening. Making a plan for regular breaks now can help you maintain your energy as your loved one’s care needs increase.

Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Miami, FL, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care. Our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity. Trust Assisting Hands Home Care to provide high-quality compassionate professional care for your loved one. Call one of our friendly Care Managers today at (305) 564-6251.