How to Prepare for a Caregiver

1. How to Prepare for a Caregiver When care giving services for an elderly loved one first become necessary, the process of locating and implementing the right ones can be overwhelming if you have not prepared ahead of time. While health crises often occur suddenly, it is possible to prepare yourself and your loved one mentally and emotionally before they happen. By doing so, you can help to make the transition to in home care easier and less traumatic for everyone involved when the time comes. 1. Discuss Preferences Ahead Of Time: One of the first steps you can take to prepare yourself and your loved one for home health care services is to have open, honest conversations with them ahead of time regarding their preferences for their care. You can have these conversations even if your loved one does not yet need care. You should first discuss, and implement, the legal paperwork necessary to make sure your loved one's wishes are carried out and to make sure that you or another family member has the legal ability to make care giving decisions for your loved one. Documents such as wills and powers of attorney should be completed so there are no barriers to providing your loved one with the type of care they desire if they should become unable to speak for themselves due to an injury or illness. In addition, you should discuss your loved one's preferences for the day to day care they would like to receive. For instance, small things, such as which hobbies are most important to them, whether or not they would be willing to have an opposite sex caregiver, and whether they prefer showers or baths will allow you, and the nurse or personal care assistant, to give them the kind of care with which they are most comfortable, even after they are unable to communicate their desires. Third, you should have conversations regarding the amount of time, energy, and money that your loved one wishes to be put into their care. For instance, you should be aware of how much money they are willing to spend, or have you spend, on their care. You should also be aware as much as possible of your own limits. For instance, if you can only come over once a week, your loved one should know this so they do not expect you to be the one to help them prepare their meals or assist them in other ways on a daily basis. Establishing limits will contribute toward reasonable expectations,

2. reduced tension, and better self care for you as you help them manage their in home care. 2. Assess The Needs: Second, before you hire a caregiver, you should assess what services they may need. For instance, the type of caregiver you will need will depend upon whether you are hiring a caregiver for a patient with Alzheimer's or one with cancer. It is, of course, impossible to anticipate all of your loved one's needs, especially if an unexpected health crisis occurs. However, you can plan for the natural difficulties that often accompany aging (such as gradually limited mobility or forgetfulness) and determine what kind of care may be necessary for handling any progressive disease with which they have been diagnosed. When assessing your loved one's needs, careful listening and a compassionate attitude are essential. Your loved one may be hesitant to discuss hiring someone to assist them, or may not feel that they need the level of help you wish to obtain. Emphasizing your love and concern instead of dictating decisions can contribute toward a willingness to listen and respond to your concerns. 3. Know Your Options: Once you understand your loved one's preferences and have assessed their current and future needs as much as possible, you will need to familiarize yourself with the options available for their care. For instance, although they may eventually require an institution such as an assisted living facility or nursing home, there are many other in home care options that you can explore before placing your loved one in a facility where they may pay more for less independence. In home care options also vary, depending on the services you need. For instance, an elderly patient with complex medical concerns may require a nurse, while an elderly patient who simply needs meals and baths may only need a personal care assistant. If you feel overwhelmed by the choices or confused about which services would be most helpful for your loved one, you could hire a geriatric care manager. These professionals can help you learn about and navigate the numerous care giving services available to you and assist you in choosing the one that will best support your loved one. 4. Start Small: Finally, when you do decide to pursue care giving for your elderly loved one, you should start small and early, if possible. As their comfort level with the help increases, and as their needs increase, you can increase the level of care to match. For instance, if your mother or father is having difficulty driving, you could begin by hiring someone to drive them to their doctor appointments. Over time, this may open the door for them to accept more help driving. If they are have trouble keeping up around the house, hiring someone to do the yard work may open the door later for someone to clean the house or prepare meals for them. Bringing in a caregiver will not only smooth the transition process but also demonstrate a concern for their needs and opinions that instill trust and respect between you and them. There is no way to fully prepare for every possibility when getting ready to provide care giving for an elderly loved one. However, open communication, careful needs assessment, a thorough understanding of your options, and starting small can help both you and your loved one make a successful transition to the right kind of geriatric care. CareLily.com helps qualified nurses and caregivers find jobs in their area. Create a profile to get matched with jobs and apply online. Your schedule and payment is all managed through our website for a hassle-free experience. There is no cost to join, so visit CareLily.com today to start applying to jobs.