Caregiving Over the Holidays
Monday, 07 December 2009 09:18 | 
Written by Susan R. Love |
The Holidays are a great time to plan a visit to an elderly family member. While this is a stressful time, it is possible to make your visit both enjoyable and productive. Caregiving and the Holidays can complement each other quite nicely as long as there is adequate preparation.
The Holidays are a great time to plan a visit to an elderly family member. While this is a stressful time, it is possible to make your visit both enjoyable and productive. Caregiving and the Holidays can complement each other quite nicely as long as there is adequate preparation.
One of the most important things you can do is observe your loved one's behavior. This is one of the easiest ways to spot a change or emerging problem. For example, if your loved one has lost weight or shows signs of decreased hygiene, some part of their daily routine probably needs to be changed. Keep an eye out for forgetfulness. Unopened mail or forgetting to refill prescriptions may be a sign of decreased cognitive functioning. Similarly, canceling appointments and failure to do things that were once enjoyed may be signs of a larger physical or psychological problem. Once any concerns have been identified you can work with other family members to come up with a solution, which may involve speaking to a health care professional.
There are several things you can do that make a huge a impact regardless of both how long you are staying and how much help your elderly family member needs. First, make sure your loved one has an emergency contact card in his wallet. If not, help him create one. Emergency contacts, physician's numbers, blood type and medication regimen should all be included. You can also attend any doctor's appointments that are scheduled during your visit. This gives you the chance to talk to the doctor in person and share any troublesome observations you have made. You can also check to be sure that your loved one has enough food and toiletries. If not, accompany him on a shopping trip.
It is also crucial that the caregiver take some time for himself during Holiday visits. Try to get enough sleep and eat well-balanced meals. This will allow you to be as productive as possible. Ask other friends and family members for support. You can't do it all yourself and having reasonable expectations will help you stay calm in the most stressful of circumstances. Create some goals for your next visit, instead of frantically trying to do it all now.
As long as you are aware of the care-receiver's behavior, have a plan, and commit yourself to having reasonable expectations, there is no reason why you can't make the most the most of your Holiday visit. This is the perfect opportunity to both have a good time and get some productive work done in ensuring your loved one's well-being.
The Holidays are a great time to plan a visit to an elderly family member. While this is a stressful time, it is possible to make your visit both enjoyable and productive. Caregiving and the Holidays can complement each other quite nicely as long as there is adequate preparation.
One of the most important things you can do is observe your loved one's behavior. This is one of the easiest ways to spot a change or emerging problem. For example, if your loved one has lost weight or shows signs of decreased hygiene, some part of their daily routine probably needs to be changed. Keep an eye out for forgetfulness. Unopened mail or forgetting to refill prescriptions may be a sign of decreased cognitive functioning. Similarly, canceling appointments and failure to do things that were once enjoyed may be signs of a larger physical or psychological problem. Once any concerns have been identified you can work with other family members to come up with a solution, which may involve speaking to a health care professional.
There are several things you can do that make a huge a impact regardless of both how long you are staying and how much help your elderly family member needs. First, make sure your loved one has an emergency contact card in his wallet. If not, help him create one. Emergency contacts, physician's numbers, blood type and medication regimen should all be included. You can also attend any doctor's appointments that are scheduled during your visit. This gives you the chance to talk to the doctor in person and share any troublesome observations you have made. You can also check to be sure that your loved one has enough food and toiletries. If not, accompany him on a shopping trip.
It is also crucial that the caregiver take some time for himself during Holiday visits. Try to get enough sleep and eat well-balanced meals. This will allow you to be as productive as possible. Ask other friends and family members for support. You can't do it all yourself and having reasonable expectations will help you stay calm in the most stressful of circumstances. Create some goals for your next visit, instead of frantically trying to do it all now.
As long as you are aware of the care-receiver's behavior, have a plan, and commit yourself to having reasonable expectations, there is no reason why you can't make the most the most of your Holiday visit. This is the perfect opportunity to both have a good time and get some productive work done in ensuring your loved one's well-being.
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