Providing care for an older adult can be rewarding and challenging at the same time. There are many pitfalls along the way that make the task much more difficult. Here are some common mistakes caregivers must be aware of.
1. Failing to Learn
Before stepping into the role of caregiver, learn all you can about the medical condition your senior loved one has. This way, you’ll understand how your loved one’s condition will progress as well as his or her current and future care needs. You must also familiarize yourself with the caregiving skills necessary to meet the tasks at hand. Learning should be an ongoing process.
Many seniors prefer aging in place over moving to assisted living facilities. If your senior loved one needs assistance to remain safe and comfortable while living at home, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading senior home care agency. Our dedicated in-home caregivers can assist with meal prep, bathing and grooming, exercise, medication reminders, and many other important tasks.
2. Doing It Alone
Many potential caregivers proceed with the best intentions only to later become unaware of the hazards of trying to do everything themselves. Along with tending to your loved one’s physical needs, you may take on the task of working, raising a family, and managing the finances of both households. If you’re not careful, emotional, mental, and physical fatigue, frustration, and burnout could occur.
From the get-go, establish a network of helpmates to meet the challenges that lie ahead. Allow others to help with doing household chores, paying bills, and running errands as needed. The more help you receive, the less stressed you’re likely to be.
For some families, caring for a senior loved one can be overwhelming at times. Luckily, they can rely on professional respite care. Miami, FL, Assisting Hands Home Care is a trusted name in respite and hourly care. Our caregivers are available around the clock to assist seniors with bathing, transportation, medication reminders, exercise, and much more, allowing families the time they need to focus on other important responsibilities or just take a break.
3. Not Caring for Yourself
In addition to not accepting help when needed, caregivers are prone to burnout if they don’t take steps to ensure they’re healthy enough to play the role. Make sure you get an adequate amount of sleep and eat foods that provide the nutrition required to meet your physical needs. Routine exercise is also important to keep the body strong and alleviate stress and tension. Time away from caregiving is necessary to unwind, relax, and reboot emotionally, mentally, and physically.
4. Underestimating or Overestimating a Senior’s Ability
Just because your loved one has dementia or another serious condition doesn’t mean he or she is no longer capable of functioning. Depending on the severity of the disorder, your loved one might still enjoy making little decisions throughout the day or engaging in various tasks. On the other hand, you might not realize the difficulty your loved one experiences when living with cognitive or physical impairment. Evaluate your loved one’s abilities carefully, and learn what he or she can and cannot do. Then offer help when needed.
5. Treating an Adult Like a Child
Whether seniors are living with cognitive disorders, depression, or some other type of condition, caregivers must never treat their loved ones like children. Needing assistance in certain areas of daily life doesn’t make your loved one any less intelligent or deserving of respect and personal dignity. Remember your loved one has feelings, thoughts, and opinions that deserve to be heard.
If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care Miami families can trust. 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 you need professional care for your loved one, Assisting Hands Home Care is just a phone call away. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today.
