If you are the caregiver for an elderly loved one the chances are high that you will soon find that it is both rewarding and a challenging task.
While every situation is different and depends on the senior, family, medical concerns and other extenuating factors; the reality is that care giving is not easy.
There are many challenges that need to be faced such as lack of mobility on the part of the senior, modifications that need to be made to the home, a rise in expenses, and balancing of other demands.
This makes it crucial that if you are going to become a caregiver that you do all you can to prepare.
Here is what you need to know about preparing for elderly care.
• Learn all you can about elderly care - One of the first things that you should do in your preparation is to learn all you can about senior care.
Most people are unfamiliar with this type of care until someone in their life needs it.
Take the time to read up on elderly care and what that means.
Talk to doctors, other caregivers, and any community resources available in your area so that you can have a clear picture of just what elderly care really means and what that will mean for you.
• Have an open line of communication - You will need to have an open line of communication with the senior in your care.
It can be difficult to talk about certain subjects such as money, incontinence, health needs etc.
But you will need to make sure that you have this important discussion so that you can provide the best care possible.
In addition, you will need to talk to the senior's health care team so that you can know what their medical needs are and if there are any concerns.
This can include but is not limited to doctors, nurses, and therapists.
Finally, you should have an open line of communication with the pharmacist and know everything you can about any medications that your senior takes.
• Design a care giving plan - Once you know what care giving involves and what kind of care that your senior will need then you will need to begin to put together a concrete plan of how that will happen.
You should try to involve the senior and other family members as much as possible.
Even if you are going to be the primary caregiver, you should include other family members and the senior if it is possible.
You should consider mobility issues and whether any modifications will need to be made to your home.
You will also need to consider bedding, furniture, and other items that may be needed in order to accommodate the senior.
You may also need to revise your budget to make sure that you can afford to offer the kind of care that the senior needs.
• Put together a backup plan - It may seem redundant but once you have a care giving plan, you need to design a backup plan.
The reality is that things happen and you need to be prepared to offer continuity of care for your senior even if you can't.
If you have the right backup plan in place then you won't need to worry, if something should happen and you won't be able to continue caring either for the short or the long-term.
Contact your local senior resources to see what is available in your area as you put together your backup plan.
This backup plan can provide the peace of mind that both you and the elderly loved one in your life really need.