Surprisingly, it is pretty uncommon to make caregiving decisions while not in a crisis. People rarely take the time to consider the ramifications of their failing health or nail down how their family should cope with it. After all, what could be so difficult about caring for someone you love? 

How to Start Caregiving

Unfortunately, there are many difficulties that come with caring for a close family member or friend. In an ideal world, a family meeting should be called to get an idea of:

• What the role of the caregiver should be
• Each family members’ expectations and understanding of caregiving
• What the family plan to support the caregiver is
• Scheduling relief for the caregiver every week

Whoever the caregiver is, this person plays a pivotal role in the life of the care recipient. They also play a central role with the rest of the family, acting as a point of reference for what the care recipient needs. 

So, how do you cope with what caregiving has to throw at you? Follow these steps:

How to Prepare for Caregiving

Analyze Your Personal Circumstances

This is one of the most important things to consider when thinking of taking care of someone close to you. If you aren’t in a great situation, you might not be cut out for the job. If your personal circumstances make you an unfit caregiver, it is better to discover that early, preferably before you take on the responsibilities of a caregiver. Think about your mental, emotional, and financial stability before taking on the needs of another person. These three factors often determine a person’s ability to care for another (think about the hierarchy of needs).

Organize

When you start taking care of someone else, it is important to keep all the ducks in a row. Have your care recipient’s information on hand, like living wills and power of attorney. Additionally, this can include social security numbers, computer passwords, medical history, home maintenance schedules, and banking information. If you have a Care Coordinator, they will help you get organized.

Communicate

Whether it’s a physician in the ER or a worried family member, there will be people you need to communicate your care recipient’s situation to. This is particularly important in situations where your care recipient might not be able to communicate for themselves, like after a stroke.

Prioritize

When you care for another person, there are a lot of decisions that need to be made and you will have to prioritize. Prepare to make decisions like whether your care recipient should remain in their home, how to best maintain quality of life, and many more complicated determinations. These types of things are best discussed before the individual becomes ill.

Educate Yourself

Knowing what to expect and educating yourself on the options available for a variety of situations makes anticipating what might occur easier. It also makes it easier for the caregiver to cope with the challenges some situations may present. Don’t be afraid to consult experts.

Stay Flexible

One thing to keep in mind is no matter how well you plan, things will change. There will likely be times when you need help or some kind of support. It’s vital that in these situations you stay calm and try not to get frustrated. Try to go with the flow as things change and you need help, and never be afraid to ask for assistance when you need it.

Stand Your Ground

By this, we really mean stand up for your care recipient. Though doctors and other professionals are educated and informed, they may have different ideas about care than what your care recipient wants. It’s up to you to stand up and hold ground when necessary if certain treatments or procedures are suggested. It’s also your responsibility to bring attention to situations or changes in health that might otherwise go ignored.

Take Care of Yourself

Regardless of how much your care recipient may need you, as the caregiver you must at times put yourself first. If you ignore your own needs, you may suffer caregiver burnout. Nobody is a machine that can just selflessly care for another person while indefinitely putting their needs aside. And it’s unreasonable to expect that from anyone, including yourself. 

Take some time to yourself today so you can take care of someone else tomorrow. Schedule breaks for yourself and do something you enjoy at least once a week. Here are a few things you can do to ensure you are caring for yourself as well:

• Give yourself breaks
• Ask for help when needed
• Set healthy boundaries
• Use respite services
• Join a support group
• Exercise
• Make sure you have planned relief in your weekly schedule

With all the senior living options today, researching each of them can be exhausting. To help, we have created your FREE Your Options for Future Care to get you started.

Confident Living is a continuing care at home membership program, focused on helping you remain active and independent as you age in your own home. We serve the greater Cincinnati area. For more information, contact us online or call (513) 719-3522.