Gradually all caregiving situations shift and change. Your senior’s needs change and what you may be able to do to help her can also change. Here are some ways you can examine and manage those shifts.
It Happens Gradually
The increasing demands on your time and your energy happen gradually over a period of time. The shift is so subtle that you likely don’t notice it happening. This is why you need to periodically take a conscious look at what is going on so you can accommodate the changes.
Take Stock of Your Senior’s Current Needs
What does your elderly family member need from you right now? The tasks that she needs help with today could be fairly simple, like helping her to keep up with her medications and with eating right. But you might find that you’re also seeing some changes, such as she’s asking you more often to drive her to an appointment.
Think about Where Those Changes Are Leading
As you notice the changes in what you’re doing, take a second to think those changes through. Ask yourself where those changes are leading. For instance, if your senior is asking you to drive her places more frequently, there might be a common thread. The weather might be bad on those days or the appointment might be in an unfamiliar area that makes her less comfortable. This can indicate that she’s having some concerns about driving.
Where Are Your Limits?
You need to know where your own limits are. Are you available at a moment’s notice to drive your senior where she needs and wants to go? If so, then the changes you’re seeing may not be that much of a problem currently. But if you aren’t always available to do the driving for her, you need to find another option.
Put Solutions in Place
In the case of driving, elderly care providers are a great solution. They offer companionship, they understand your senior’s needs, and they can be there whenever your senior needs them to do the driving. On your end, you’ll know that your senior is in safe hands and that she’s not forcing herself to drive when she’s not comfortable doing so.
You’re not going to do this perfectly every time that your senior’s needs change, so don’t beat yourself up if you miss a step. But taking the time to assess what’s working and what isn’t gives you a chance to shift your resources a bit to take care of both of you.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE ARE CONSIDERING ELDERLY CARE IN SUMMERLIN, NV, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE OF SUMMERLIN. 702-800-4616.