As the Baby Boomers age many people will find themselves in a new role, that of caregiver. By the year 2020, the number of senior citizens in this country will equal the number of 20-to-35 year olds. These older Americans will need assistance to maintain independence, dignity, and quality of life. Often times, family members will use a tag team approach or one person will choose to be primary caregiver.
Watching an elderly loved one decline can be an emotionally trying process for a family. Communication is key. In many cases, the roles reverse and the child now assumes a more parental role. Working with a loved one who has Alzheimer's disease or dementia can complicate the situation.
Good communication is vital, if you will be the primary caregiver for your senior. The foundation of communication is respect. No matter what the situation, or at what age the senior, the need for respect is present. Talk to your loved one in a place free of distractions, use the name they are accustomed to hearing and connect, with eye contact. Be open to listening to the concerns the senior may have as their life changes. Consider their input when making plans for the future.
If your loved one wishes to stay at home, safety is of utmost concern. Keep the environment simple and uncluttered. Decrease the risk of falls by enhancing lighting, eliminating throw rugs, and installing grab bars. Keep your eyes open for dangerous objects and situations, especially in the kitchen and bathroom.
As the loved one's needs become more demanding, the caregiver must safeguard against stress. Stress is a serious risk that can lead to depression and ill health if the caregiver doesn't take time to care for him/herself. Caregivers need to take time to eat, rest, and enjoy recreation. Caregiver support groups are available and helpful. Caregivers can find camaraderie in these groups, solutions to problems others have shared, and insight into the caregiving experience.
A unique collaboration between Home Instead Senior Care and the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation had led to the creation of www.caregiverstress.com. This website includes an online stress tool that can help family caregivers gauge their level of stress and get help from a variety of resources, many of which are listed on the site. Resources such as Home Instead Senior Care, who's CAREgivers go into the homes and facilities of seniors, often lifting the burden and providing regular relief for weary family caregivers. CAREgivers help with the non-medical activities of daily living, such as companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, transportation, errands and shopping.
Caring for an elderly loved one has its challenges and rewards. Challenges like communicating with respect, helping your senior accept the changes aging brings, and keeping them safe, along with balancing the many demands and managing stress. Caregivers who take care of themselves and seek support from the many available resources, reap the rewards of seeing their loved one maintain dignity and enjoy a richer quality of life as they age.
Leslie Sanders
Community Service Representative
Home Instead Senior Care
306-G Pomona Dr.
Greensboro, NC 27407
(336)294-0081
