There are going to be plenty of times in your life when the future seems uncertain. One of those might be when you’re helping your elderly mother. There are an estimated 44 million family members providing care and support to elderly and disabled loved ones. These family caregivers often wonder exactly what the future is going to look like, especially when they first start providing this type of support.
What do you expect?
The first thing to ask yourself is exactly what you expect. How are things going to work out for you and this other individual? Will they require assistance for just a few weeks or a few months? Or will it be something longer than that?
Set your limitations.
If you’re not exactly sure how long the care will go on for, make sure you set limitations. It’s also important to set limitations even if you expect this to only be for two months or even less.
If you fail to set limitations on yourself, especially with regard to how much time you have to do this, you could end up dealing with a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety. That stress can affect your relationships, your marriage, your work life, and much more.
Set certain goals.
Sit down with this elderly family member and set goals. What do they want to be able to accomplish in a few weeks, several months, or in a few years? If they are recovering following a hospitalization, those goals are going to be instrumental in the entire process.
By establishing goals it will be easier for you to have a plan, determine whether the plan is working, and whether certain adjustments need to be made.
Treat caregiving like a job.
Even though this is a family member, it’s important that you focus on being a caregiver like you would a professional job. If you say you’re going to show up at a certain time, do it. If you need time off, which everyone does, you should take advantage of the opportunity to relax, unwind, and focus on yourself.
How can you do that?
The best way is to consider hiring a professional and experienced home care aide. Yes, you are a family member and this might feel like your responsibility, but there’s no reason you can’t rely on the support of an experienced aide who can not only provide great tips and strategies, but also give you the time you need to focus on yourself as well.
If you are considering hiring home care in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, call the caring staff at Central Star Home Health at (419) 610-2161. Providing services for families in Mansfield, Lexington, Bellville, Mt. Gilead, Loudonville, Crestline, Galion, Shelby, Ashland, Wooster, and the surrounding areas.
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