Caregivers are often on the front lines in our community to provide care for someone struggling to take care of themselves. Caregiving is not a job, but it’s also not something that is done out of the kindness of your heart. It’s work, and sometimes it can be overwhelming. You can do many things to make your time as a caregiver easier. Here are some Ben Friedman Toronto tips about being a better caregiver for your loved one.
Get some help. If you can, hire someone to do some of the more difficult things for you to do. Some people find hiring a professional caregiver or home health aide helpful, but don’t be afraid to ask your friends and family if they have a friend who could help out.
Not everyone can give caregiving advice well. You may not know what you’re doing in every situation, so don’t be afraid to ask for help or take advice from someone else with experience.
Take care of yourself first! You’ll need your strength and energy when caring for someone else because there are many physical and emotional demands on the caregiver’s time and strength. You’ll need your rest and exercise, too!
Don’t plan everything around your loved one’s needs or wants; sometimes, we have caregivers who will plan every single thing around their loved one’s wishes, even going so far as to insist that the patient’s family members permit them to do anything. Don’t let this happen to you!
If your loved one is in a nursing home, make sure they have a lot of visitors and can enjoy social interaction with their friends and family as much as possible. When you’re at work, make sure you get lots of breaks so that you can visit with your loved one and maintain your health.
If you’re a caregiver for an older adult with dementia, try not to get frustrated when they forget things or act out in unusual ways (for example, if they forget where they put their keys or don’t know why someone is asking them questions). Remember that it’s normal for them to forget things from time to time, and it’s also normal for them to act out because many people with dementia have no control over their behavior!
Try not to feel guilty if you need help from someone else; it’s perfectly normal to want to do things for yourself and your loved one. Let your loved ones know that you appreciate their efforts and that you’re happy to let them help out however they feel most appropriate.
If your loved one has dementia, try not to complain about it too much; it will only make them feel bad about themselves, which will likely harm their health. Instead, try to stay upbeat, take care of yourself, and look after yourself!
Don’t put off going to the doctor because you’re worried they’ll find something wrong with your loved one’s health; if anything is wrong, they’ll want to act on it right away! Take care of yourself so that you can continue taking good care of your loved ones as well!
