When an older loved one needs help, it is typically family members that are the first ones to step in and provide this help. Yes, professional care might be necessary down the road, but it’s usually those that are closest to the individual that provide the first layer of defense. And even though this is not a professional level of care, it is still considered to be senior care. We tend to call the people that provide this care “family caregivers.” Even if they aren’t necessarily members of the family, this term lumps non-professional family, friends, and others into the same group because, essentially, they are acting as if they are members of the same family unit.
This is hard. Most people don’t have the training or background to provide a professional level of senior care. Most people are not prepared–mentally or physically–for stepping up to this task. It is tough and it can take a toll. But the truth is, with a little preparation, most people are fully capable of providing some level of senior care for a family member.
First, you need to be prepared to admit that this isn’t something that you can do completely on your own. Caring for another individual is hard, and very few of us have experience caring for an older individual. Although a lot of people have raised children, a baby is a lot different than an older parent or grandparent. There are different needs, more extensive medical issues, and other complex factors that need to be accounted for. Add in that an adult can generally voice what they want pretty well and you can see how caring for an elderly individual might be tough.
Next, know where to go for help. Know what exists in your community, and know how to access it. I recommend beginning with a call to your county’s Senior Services office.
Providing care for a loved one is not easy, but please do not forget that you have a lot of resources on your side–many of which are completely free. Even though this is a hard journey, you don’t have to walk it alone. Trying to can make an already tough job a hundred times harder than it needs to be. This is your family that we’re talking about. They deserve the very best.
If you’re not sure where to start, give us a call. Even if we aren’t the ones that end up helping you with the care side of things, we can help you get started through our free consultation service. This includes pointing you toward the community resources that are going to have the biggest positive impact on your family. It might be a small thing, but if it can help take some of the burden off of your shoulders so that you can give your family something better, then it’s certainly not small in our books.
Regardless of where you live, there are resources out there that can help you be a better caregiver. Reach out to them. Your family will benefit.
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