Family caregivers have the responsibility of helping their aging loved ones plan and manage their lives. Not surprisingly, this can be challenging and create stress for both you and your elderly loved one. The good news is there are many ways to ensure the decisions you make in your role as caregiver are both sound and beneficial for your loved one’s wellbeing.
1. Practice HALT
HALT is a method recovering addicts commonly use to avoid the likelihood of relapse. It involves identifying triggers or conditions that lead to poor decisions. HALT is an acronym for hungry, angry, lonely, and tired. You should never get so involved in your caregiving duties that you become too much of any one of these things. Missing meals and letting your blood sugar dip, allowing feelings of resentment to spiral out of control, neglecting your own social life, and failing to get sufficient sleep can all lead to hasty, rash, and regrettable decisions. Whenever any major choice needs to be made about your loved one’s care, take some time to care for yourself properly so you can think clearly and take action from a calm and balanced place.
Caring for senior loved ones can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
2. Consult with Others
Although you might be acting as the primary caregiver for your loved one, it’s important to acknowledge family and friends and the value of their input when making decisions. Bouncing your ideas off a sibling or friend may open the door to solutions you’ve overlooked. More importantly, it gives you the chance to talk about the pros and cons of each choice with an empathetic audience.
A professional caregiver can be a fantastic source of information and encouragement for both you and your loved one. Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs live-in care, Opelika, AL, Home Care Assistance can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home.
3. Join an Online Support Group
Caregivers often share similar emotional, financial, and legal challenges. Joining a support group allows you to connect with people who have had to make choices much like the ones you’re making. You can hear about their challenges and triumphs, learn from their successes and mistakes, and ask specific questions regarding both your own and your loved one’s needs. Collecting opinions from neutral third parties can help you make informed decisions.
4. Get Legal Advice
Some decisions regarding home care may warrant legal counsel. Before making any significant financial decisions for your loved one, try reaching out to a licensed financial advisor, elder law attorney, or senior advocacy group. This is especially important if you don’t fully understand the dynamics and potential ramifications of your choices.
5. Start a Journal
Journals provide the perfect opportunity to vent fears and frustrations that are better left unsaid. If a potential decision feels emotionally driven, take some time to write about it in your journal. This can keep you focused on your needs and wants while ensuring you’re keeping your loved one’s best interests in mind.
One of the most important decisions you can make is whether to hire a home caregiver for your loved one. If you’re the primary family caregiver for an elderly loved one and need additional assistance providing high-quality in-home care, Opelika Home Care Assistance can help. We are a leading home care agency committed to changing the way seniors age. If you need professional home care for your loved one, our Care Managers are just a phone call away. Reach out to Home Care Assistance today at (334) 744-7100.