Caregiving is a difficult yet rewarding occupation.
The very first caregivers are our parents. They love us, mold us, and tend to our every need. Over time, there may be a slight shift as our parents and grandparents need the exact care and patience they once gave us. Caregivers can be children, grandchildren, family friends, friendly neighbors, and even healthcare professionals. The ultimate goal is to provide the quality of life our loved ones are accustomed to, but caregiving can come with a handful of challenges you may not be aware of. There are plenty of situations that you may be used to, but what about the situations that you are not? In this post, I will give you examples of what you should do and what you shouldn’t.
Let’s start with the don’ts.
Becoming an effective caregiver doesn’t happen overnight. It takes practice, clear communication, and, above all, selflessness. Below are a few ways to avoid emotional distress.
- Don’t Take It Personally: We all have feelings, and they matter, but when caring for a loved one, treat them as you would want someone to treat you. Understand that behavioral issues may be due to illness, not personal attacks.
- Don’t Argue or Reason: We all can be quick to be defensive and argumentative, but that’s when practicing patience matters. Instead of arguing with someone with dementia, try distracting or validating their feelings.
- Don’t Ignore Your Health: All caregivers experience burnout. It is also important to give yourself some time to recuperate. If you don’t, it can cause tension and stress between everyone involved. Skipping doctor appointments or ignoring your own stress is dangerous.
- Don’t Rush Tasks: Give the person space and time to do what they can for themselves.
- Don’t Discuss Finances: Avoid bringing up the cost of care, as this can make the person feel like a burden.
What should you do?
Caregiving is an important and heavily valued role. You become part of the family if you aren’t already close to everyone. To ensure that you and the person you are caring for build a great relationship, you must maintain these healthy tips below.
- Prioritize Self-Care: To avoid caregiver burnout, schedule breaks, get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise.
- Communicate Effectively: Use redirection, validation, and reassurance rather than arguing or lecturing.
- Ensure Safety: Clear walkways of cords/rugs, improve lighting, and secure cabinets.
- Stay Organized: Keep a schedule for medications, appointments, and daily tasks.
- Accept Help: Reach out to friends, family, or professionals for respite care.
We would love to speak with you.
Your loved ones are important to you, and they deserve care that meets them where they’re at. We specialize in bringing quality care to families without the stress and fear of the unknown. Give us a call, and we will walk you through our BrightMatch process.
Above all things, correct communication matters.
Communication is key in all relationships, but it’s especially necessary when you’re not used to the communication skills you’ll need when caring for someone new. We all have different communication styles, but these strategies will help ensure effective communication so that everyone is on the same page, feels understood, and most importantly, feels respected and safe.
- Agree, don’t argue
- Redirect, don’t reason
- Distract, don’t shame
- Reassure, don’t lecture
- Reminisce, don’t say “remember?”
- Repeat, don’t say “I told you”
- Do what you can, don’t say “you can’t”
- Ask, don’t command
- Encourage, don’t condescend
- Reinforce, don’t force
We are here to help when you are ready!
To figure out what best suits you or your family’s needs, you first need to look at the current situation or common circumstances. Life is always changing and throwing new things at us, so here at Brightbridge Home Care, we understand that needs shift and plans are always revised to ensure the best care. Please call us at (317) 995-6261 or email us at care@brightbridgehomecare.com for more information.