Most family caregivers don't decide to take on the role. It accumulates. One week you're picking up a prescription for your parent, and a year later you're managing her groceries and her Tuesday hair appointment while holding down a job. Senior Helpers sees National Family Caregivers Month as a good excuse to look at who else could provide caregiver support and share the load.
Write Down Everything You Do
Grab a plain notebook and track all caregiving tasks for a week, from picking up prescriptions to shoveling the walk. You'll be surprised at the length of the list. Keep it handy for others to see how they can help. Your sibling might not drive to appointments. However, he can still contribute by paying bills online or checking in on your dad every Sunday.
Asking Specific People for Specific Help
Vague requests get vague answers. People who'd gladly help tend to hold back, either because they don't know what you need or because they worry about getting in the way. Ask a neighbor to take your parent to the Thursday lunch at church, though, and you'll get a clear yes-or-no. Match tasks to people's strengths and schedules. Some people will say no, and that's their right.
Friends from your parent's past count too. A former coworker, a bowling league friend, or a nearby cousin may be glad to visit once a month. These visits provide your parent with conversation beyond just you, offering caregiver support that's hard to ask for.
Finding Caregivers Who Understand
Some days you need to talk to a person who's been there and won't need the backstory explained. Your parent's, or a hospital social worker, may know of a local support group, and some groups meet online.
Between meetings, you can read up on topics ranging from care planning to direct care skills. The Family Caregiver Alliance is a valuable resource that supports family caregivers of adults.
Planning for Breaks Before You Need Them
Caregivers tend to wait until they're on fumes to ask for a break. Put time off on the calendar the way you'd book a doctor's appointment, even if it's just a Saturday morning walk along a river.
A break doesn't have to be long. Respite can come from family, friends, adult day programs, or paid in-home care. To find those services near you, try the ARCH National Respite Network.
Watch your own health, too. Mention skipped checkups or bad sleep at your next appointment.
Enhancing Well-Being With Caregiver Support
That Tuesday hair appointment could be someone else's "Me Day." A caretaker from Senior Helpers Geneva-Aurora can cover a regular shift. They provide companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, rides to and from appointments, and medication reminders. Families in and around Geneva, Aurora, Plainfield, and Oswego, IL, already count us on their teams. Contact us if you'd like to add us to yours and ensure the well-being of your loved ones and your own.