Helpful Advice and Tips for Family Caregivers
When you’re a family caregiver, how does your role affect the time you have with your parents? Are you so focused on their needs that you have little time to do things your family enjoys? Have you struggled to find time for family outings or relaxed days at home?
Family caregivers often have a hard time balancing self-care, a parent’s care, and time with others in the family. Here are tips that can help you make the most of being a family caregiver.
Arrange to Have Other Family Members Assist You
24-Hour Home Care in Evanston, IL: Tips for Family Caregivers
You shouldn’t be the only person helping your mom and dad. If you have siblings, they need to help out. They can do tasks from their home, even if they live hours away.
Your brother could schedule appointments for your parents while your sister researches lower prices for things like prescription medications, insurance, and utilities. They may live close by, making it easy for them to pick a day or two each week to help out while you take a break.
Build a daily to-do list that you can share online. When your brother and sister have time, they should look at the list and pick tasks or days where they’re free to help out. By keeping a shared list that everyone can edit, you always know when you can take a day off and when your parents need you.
Never Lose Sight of Yourself
It’s easy to spend all day and night helping your parents with housekeeping, meals, personal care, transportation, scheduling, and so much more. Once your parents are settled for the night, you still have a 20-mile drive back to your house.
As soon as you’re in the door, you’re ready to climb into bed to be sure you get back to their house before they wake up. But, you have to do some laundry, walk your dog, and get your children’s lunches prepared.
It’s been months since you’ve had a day off, so you never see your friends. You’ve lost sight of yourself. It’s time to stop taking care of others and focus on taking care of yourself. Self-care has to come first.
Hire 24-Hour Home Care to Help Your Parents
What if no one lives close by? Do you have to leave your parents alone and hope for the best?
The most important thing you can do for yourself and your parents is hiring 24-hour home care aides. Your mom and dad have the help they need throughout the week. And, your weekend visits can focus on fun activities for the family. Call an home care specialist to schedule 24-hour home care services.
If you or an aging loved one are considering 24-Hour Home Care in Evanston, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.
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