5 Things that Make Caregiving Easier
Feb 27, 2023
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No matter how long you’ve been providing care for a loved one, it never gets easier. In fact, caregiving only gets more complex and demanding as time passes because the need for support generally increases.If you’re a caregiver, here are some things you can do to make your job easier while still providing high-quality care.
1. Look into getting paid for your time
Did you know that in most states you can get paid to care for your loved one? If you’re already doing the work, it won’t hurt to apply for a program that will pay you for your time. You can usually sign up directly through the state, but some states have special programs that offer better benefits.
For instance, FreedomCare NY makes it easy for people to earn an income caring for a friend or family member and provides certain benefits.
Most people who are on Medicaid qualify, but there are some exceptions. For instance, you can’t get paid to care for a legal spouse or a child under 21, at least in New York. Other states may have different laws. Either way, it’s worth pursuing because it will help you financially and make taking time off work less of a burden.
2. Hold a family meeting
You can’t care for someone all by yourself, no matter how much free time you have. Even if you’re retired and have no other obligations, caregiving isn’t a one-person job. You need help.
If you have local family members, call a meeting to discuss the situation with the intention of getting others to help. It’s common for people to avoid taking on caregiving duties for loved ones when they know someone else is picking up all the slack. However, that’s not fair to you.
Any help you can get from others will be worth the time it takes to convince them to step up and take some responsibility. It might only be an hour here and there, or small things like grocery shopping, but take what you can get where it’s offered.
3. Hire private caregivers
Never underestimate the relief you’ll get from hiring a private caregiver even for just a few hours per week. When you’re caring for someone, you don’t have time for your own life. This means laundry, dishes, and other household tasks will fall to the wayside. By hiring someone for a few hours, one day, or more, you’ll get time to yourself to manage your own life.
Private caregivers will cost you money out of pocket, but it’s worth the expense because you can’t put a price tag on your well-being. You might even be able to find someone who is more skilled at certain tasks that wear you out.
4. Manage your stress to avoid burnout
Caregiver burnout is intense and comes from exhaustion and frustration. If you don’t manage your stress continually, you could end up overwhelmed and feeling angry. This is a normal part of the job, but it’s detrimental if you don’t get it under control.
There are only a few ways to prevent burnout and the subsequent anger and that is to take care of yourself by taking time off, getting enough rest, and having a support system. If you don’t have all three of these, burning will be imminent.
If you’re on your own and can’t get support from others, it can help to see a therapist. Likewise, if you don’t have other people to give you a break, hire someone to take over once in a while so you can rest properly.
5. Get supplies for your loved one
There are items and equipment you can get to make things easier on you and your loved one. For example, bed rails will prevent them from falling out of bed, you can get a commode to avoid having to walk them to the bathroom, and using a belt for transfers will be especially helpful.
If the person you’re caring for is mobile, and you’re going to invest in a walker for them, make sure it’s set to the right height. Also, avoid the kind with wheels. Although it’s a smoother way to get around, wheels can be quite dangerous. Rolling walking aids require applying constant pressure to the brakes, and sometimes people don’t have that kind of strength or forget when they’ve released the brake. Many people fall while using rollators even in their own home simply because they can roll out from underneath them faster than they realize it’s happening.
Take care of yourself, too
You can’t care for another person unless you take care of yourself, too. So, make sure you give yourself enough rest and ask for support when needed. It’s the best way to ensure your loved one gets the quality care they deserve.
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