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Many people use to-do lists when planning a vacation, home improvement project or for managing their personal finances. If you’re one of the millions of Americans who take care of an aging in place loved one, a to-do list is also important so that you can more efficiently balance those informal caregiving duties with a household, job and kids. But compiling a caregiving to-do list is only a start, and it’s just as important to make sure that you stick to it. What follows are 5 reliable ways to accomplish both.
Although serving as an informal caregiver can be highly rewarding, it oftentimes comes with numerous challenges that can lead to caregiver stress, such as:
Many of these issues are made worse by poor time management, and if these stress-inducers continue to persist, they can cause caregiver fatigue and even burnout.
To help stay recharged and refreshed so that you can help your loved one enjoy a higher quality of life, compile a to-do list that includes these 5 items:
Online or in-person caregiving support groups are a great way for you to make new friends who not only understand what you’re going through, they can also share tips for making the process go more smoothly. If your senior has a chronic medical condition, there are many disease-related organizations that offer online support groups and assistance.
Over half of all informal caregivers also hold down full-time jobs. If you are employed outside the home, sit down with your supervisor or H.R. representative and honestly tell them what’s going on. Some of the topics to discuss during your conversation may include:
You can’t help your loved one if you’re stressed out and fatigued. Include on your list some ways to take better care of yourself, like:
Create a caregiving spreadsheet with activities of daily living that your loved one needs, and then prioritize those duties based on importance and your availability. To keep from feeling overwhelmed, break up big tasks into manageable “chunks” that you can accomplish during each visit. Activities of daily living that you may want to include on your caregiving spreadsheet include:
Check off items on your to-do list as they’re completed, which will also give you a sense of accomplishment as the days go by!
Instead of shouldering all the caregiving responsibilities by yourself, lighten your load by delegating tasks to other resources like:
Even when following a to-do list, caring for an aging in place senior can still be overwhelming. When you need a break, contact Senior Crossroads of FL. As a fully licensed and insured home care agency, our carefully screened respite caregivers can serve as an extended family in your loved one’s home so they can continue living safely and comfortable in place right where they want to be. Our experienced team of caregiving professionals uses a unique approach that’s designed to improve the quality of life for the seniors and families we serve.
Our family trusted in-home services include meals, personal hygiene, light housework, grocery shopping, medication reminders, transportation and companionship. All our top-quality amenities can be individually combined into an affordable package that’ll restore your peace of mind! To learn more about Senior Crossroads, or to schedule a FREE initial assessment for a senior in your life, please visit us online today.
