Unless there’s an emergency with your aging adult, you’re likely going to find yourself gradually becoming a more involved family caregiver.
Caregiver Coral Gables FL – What Do You Need to Know as You Ease into Being a Family Caregiver?
Talk Openly with Your Aging Adult about Her Needs
Start talking honestly now with your senior about what she needs and what she expects from you as her caregiver. You might feel tempted to just start taking over some aspects of her life, but unless she’s in an emergency situation, it’s important to let her determine where you can help her the most.
Look at What You Know You Can Do
You’ve got your own life and your own responsibilities, so there’s only so much that you can do right now as a caregiver. In the earliest stages of caregiving, that’s probably all you need to know. But as your senior’s needs change, you do need to have an idea in mind about what you’ll be able to do and what you can move around and delegate to others.
Start Forming a Support Network Now
You’re going to need a support network as a family caregiver. There’s no way around that, because caregiving is complicated stuff. If you know friends who are caregivers, reach out to them and find out how you can help. That gives you an inside look at what being a family caregiver can be all about. Also, consider joining caregiver support groups. They can help you to learn.
Acknowledge You Can’t Do it All on Your Own
You may think that you can handle whatever caregiving throws your way and to an extent you may be right. But you’ll eventually need some help and that’s where your support network, elderly care providers, and other sources of assistance come in. Start learning all that you can about all of these options.
Get Real about the Future
Keep the lines of communication open with your aging adult about her future needs, because that’s going to allow you to prepare for those changes. If she’s open to the idea of you attending doctor’s appointments with her, that can also help you to stay in the loop.
Your senior’s needs are definitely going to change, as are your own. As you take on more and more responsibility as a family caregiver, this foundation is going to help you be more effective.
