May 3, 2022
There are some common caregiver issues that many struggle with, but our experts in home care in Des Peres can help families overcome them.
Trusting someone you love into the care of someone else is not easy, especially for a senior member of the family. Whether at home or in a facility, you will have questions you’ll need answered. You will also want to be ready to advocate for the senior to proactively manage any potential problems and also to immediately resolve problems that do develop.
For instance, review the following common caregiver issues and situations and how to best advocate should they occur with an older adult you love:
- You are worried about challenging behaviors. In the event the senior is susceptible to aggression, wandering, angry outbursts, hoarding, or any one of an array of other difficult behaviors, you might feel ashamed or embarrassed. Though you may prefer not to discuss the issue, it is a good idea to share this openly with the care provider. More likely than not, they have experience with successfully dealing with an array of personalities and personal nuances, and will be able to incorporate strategies which will work most effectively with your family member.
- Your loved one has dementia. An older adult with Alzheimer’s might not be able to effectively communicate their wishes and needs. As an example, a new caregiver may not realize that Dad wears inserts in his shoes and she may put his shoes on each morning without them. Dad might not know how to express this need or could have forgotten about this need and be uncomfortable that day. Or he might act out because he is experiencing discomfort, which may lead to other issues. As the senior’s voice, be sure to share even the littlest details about the person’s preferences with the care provider.
- You live far away. Thanks to technology, it’s easier than in the past to stay close to a long-distance relative and also to keep a finger on the pulse of how things are going. Zoom, FaceTime, or Skype with the senior frequently to check in. If an online family portal is available for the care provider and family members to share notes and comments, make full use of this communication tool. And if you’re not able to visit in person, ask a friend or other member of the family who lives nearby to drop in regularly.
Continuum, a trusted provider of home care in Des Peres and nearby areas, partners with families, working together to guarantee the highest quality of care and life for older adults, through customized services such as:
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Transportation and accompaniment
- Personal care for safe baths/showers, getting dressed, etc.
- Companionship for fun conversations and activities
- Meal planning and preparation
- And much more
- Running errands
Want more tips on how to overcome common caregiver issues? Contact us at (314) 863-9912 or (636) 861-3336 for a no cost in-home consultation to allow us to get to know each other and to develop a care plan to best meet the needs of an older adult you love.