Staying Safe as a Caregiver Means Protecting More than Just Yourself

By Jamie Shapiro | June 4, 2015 | Comments Off on Staying Safe as a Caregiver Means Protecting More than Just Yourself

Caregiver in Buffalo Grove, IL

Safety is one of the top priorities for any caregiver. Whether it’s a family member or a paid professional, keeping the senior in their care safe at all times is one of the most important aspects of the job. There are many ways experienced caregivers assist in supporting elderly individuals to ensure safety at the highest level.

For the tens of millions of family caregivers working in the United States right now, safety is one of the most important priorities for them and their elderly loved ones. Far too often, though, those family caregivers put their own safety and security on the back burner. They have a tendency to focus more on their elderly loved one than themselves, and while this exposes them to increased risk factors, and even if they are aware of those increased risk factors, it also exposes the senior to increased risk as well.

How is the senior’s safety impacted by a reduction in the caregiver’s own?

There are numerous scenarios that can play out in every situation. One of them could be the family caregiver is driving around faster than they normally do to try to get everything done during the day. This caregiver may get in the habit of rolling through stop signs, blowing through yellow lights that are turning red, or driving on the highway 5 miles an hour over the speed limit, 10 miles an hour over, in essence faster than they usually do.

What happens in the event that they get into an accident? They could be hospitalized, they could certainly lose their transportation for some length of time, and that could suddenly place the senior at increased risk because nobody would be able to stop by and help them out.

If the caregiver is rushing around at the house, running up and down the stairs to do laundry or get other things out of the basement, they increase the chances of slipping and falling. That could lead to injuries that cause hospitalization and other issues.

Staying safe should always be a top priority for any caregiver, family member or not. If caregivers feel completely overwhelmed by the work and that their safety or the safety of their elderly loved one is compromised for any reason, they should consider hiring professional in home care providers to assist with basic daily care for the senior. Safety should never be sacrificed for anyone, regardless of the situation.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Buffalo Grove, 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.

Jamie Shapiro
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