Senior Caregivers: Things to Consider When Shifting to Live In Care

To avoid any misunderstanding, it is always advisable to sit down and talk to your parent prior to hiring a senior caregiver. Make it clear to them that although you enjoy being able to care for them, you don't have that many hours within the day to provide the quality of care they deserve. Parents may react differently to the idea of hiring an in home senior caregiver. If you're lucky, you'll not have problems getting your parents to accept it. But some are not as fortunate, having to face opposition from their aging loved ones. Should your parent react negatively to the idea, you should not lose hope. You can try explaining again the reason why you both need to hire an in home care company.

Detail to them the problem you are facing as a family caregiver and its possible consequences to their health and to yours as well. You may also ask your parent if there is a better option to help them. It's a bit frustrating sometimes, but eventually most parents change their mind and agree. You should by no means force the idea, but you need to be unrelenting. When switching to in home care, it is very important that you take things real slow. Hiring a senior caregiver can be quite relieving to you, but not to your elder parent. They might be disturbed or even upset initially. No doubt they're more comfortable having you around than someone they do not know.

It is only reasonable for them to not be crazy about the idea of having someone do such personal things for them as bathing or even doing the laundry. If this stranger would only do basic home tasks for them such as cooking meals, dusting the furniture and bringing them to the doctor, it may be an easier transition. When switching to in home care, you may also want to consider hiring a geriatric care manager to help make everything as smooth as possible.

After the transition to in home care, you will see that your aging parent will be accustomed to having a senior caregiver around. In fact, they might even enjoy it. Live in care givers are able to provide many services that ordinary people, even family caregivers cannot. After all, they have been trained and equipped to perform such duties. Also, your parent may soon find it more satisfying to have you around spending quality time with them, rather than running to and fro as their primary senior care giver.

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The Demands of Caregivers

It is a fact of life that the young grows old one day if the life cycle makes a complete round. Hence, caregivers to the young and the old are essential to the cycle of life. The young are not able to care for themselves as they do not have the knowledge or experience as yet. They need to be taught and shown how. Whereas the old are frail and weak with many health issues that limit their movements and capabilities. Both these categories fall at the opposite ends of the life spectrum.

The caregiver is an important element to these two groups of people. However, the giving of care may be too much at times for a caregiver. Caregivers are subject to stress and burnout as with any other job. The demands on a caregiver are high when you do not have much control over the circumstances. Hence, the caregiver must be alert to the signs of weariness in his responsibility when caring for the young or the old.

Dangers of Burnout

Burnout can damage the caregiver's physical health as well as mental health. A caregiver needs good and strong support to provide the necessary and effective care to his wards.

Stress can build up easily if not checked and control. It can cause burnout to a caregiver, rendering him or her ineffective in his/her responsibilities. Frustration, despair, guilt and throwing in the towel feelings may creep up on the caregiver who does not manage his stress well in his care giving responsibilities.

But there are workable steps which a caregiver can take to avoid burnout.

Maximize your knowledge about the illness

A caregiver will feel more in control and confident when he is familiar with the illness of his charge. With the knowledge, you are able to assess the situation and patient correctly every time and administer the right treatment, whether it is medication or counseling. Your care giving effort would be more effective and you will reap joy and satisfaction as you notice good results.

Care giving boundaries

Know your strengths and weaknesses as a caregiver. Determine how much time you will offer as a caregiver with your strengths while working to improve your weaknesses. Communicate these traits and expectations to your supporting staff so that you will not be given unnecessary pressure in your responsibility.

Unleash your feelings

Care giving is an emotional job; varied emotions can be triggered. A caregiver must learn to allow her feelings to surface, accepted and cleared so that they do not be a burden in the future.

Cooperation with others

A caregiver is not a lone ranger; there should be a team of caregivers working together who can support each other at work and emotionally. This group must be trustworthy and professional in their character as they handle their roles as caregivers.

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