One thing that family caregivers often forget about is that not everything needs to be done at once. Yes, there are some things that need to be done on a daily basis, but other things can wait. Or, better yet, you can plan ahead and make sure that the tedious tasks are all begun well ahead of time so that your day goes by a little more smoothly.
Meal preparation is one area where this is really simple. In the middle of the day, when you are trying to do your own chores around the house while helping out your parent, getting meals ready can not only be difficult, it can be problematic and interruptive. By getting things ready the night before, though, you can make sure that meals are ready sooner and with a lot less work. This can be as simple making a little bit extra when you are preparing dinner and then putting it in the freezer for later in the week. You’re already doing the work if you do it this way, you’re just spending a few extra minutes to set some aside and store it for later on.
It’s also something that can be helpful if you are using a professional in-home care service. One thing that caregivers are expected to do is to assist your elderly family member with meal prep. Sometimes, though, this doesn’t happen as easily as it could. This can be true if your mom or dad has a special diet or if they are picky about what they eat. Either way, it can save your caregiver a lot of trouble if they have everything that they need to get ready for mealtime either started for them, or fully prepped before they arrive for the day. It’s not always necessary, but it is thoughtful.
Other things cannot be avoided. Meds must be given out at an exact time. This is something that you can set reminders for yourself about, though. Setting a separate alarm on your cell phone for this can help, as can printing out a checklist that will help you to track what meds have been taken and when. If you’re not used to staying on a specific medication schedule, this can be a good idea. The same is true if there is a new med being introduced into your loved one’s established routine. Like many other things, this cannot be put off, but it can be scheduled for and by being adequately prepared, you can make sure that it’s not a panicked rush to get things done.
What’s something that you struggle with as a caregiver? Odds are, other caregivers have struggled with it too. Think about the things that you can do to streamline the process, either by simplifying it or by doing the bulk of the work when you are not under time restraints. If you can’t come up with a working idea, try a web search to see if there are any tips out there that might be helpful for you.
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