Becoming someone's caregiver is one of the most difficult jobs you can have. About 65 million people in the United States are caregivers to someone who is chronically ill or disabled. If you are thinking about becoming someone's caregiver, here is some information you should know before you begin.
You duties might change
If you are preparing to care for someone who doesn't need much help, you need to understand that it might not stay that way. As illness and/or age progresses, the person you are caring for might be able to do less and less as time goes by. You could begin by only administering medications, and end up having to help with baths and getting around the house by the end of the year. It all depends on the person and the prognosis of what he or she is dealing with. If you plan on sticking with someone long term, you have to be prepared to do more in the future.
You might be able to take time off of work
If you plan on providing short-term care for a family member, you might be able to take time off of your current job and go back to it later. The Family and Medical Leave Act or FMLA of 1993 states that employers are required by law to allow their employees to take an unpaid leave without putting their jobs in jeopardy. You will have to talk to your employer to find out if they are covered by the act and if your situation qualifies for FMLA.
Don't be afraid to ask for help
If the amount of care required is too much for you to handle on your own, don't be afraid to ask for help. You will be less likely to burn out and you will provide better long-term care if you have assistance along the way. Enlist someone to come scrub the house once or twice a week so you can focus on the person you are caring for. You can have someone come help prepare a week's worth of freezer meals so you can pop one in the oven every night and not spend too much of your valuable time cooking. It doesn't make you a bad person to want to make things easier on yourself.
Take care of yourself
Another way caregivers burn out is by not taking care of themselves. You can't skip meals because you are busy or not sleep because you are worried about the person you are caring for. Make sure you eat proper meals, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly so you can stay healthy enough to care for someone else.
Becoming a caregiver is a serious commitment, and it's not a commitment that everyone can handle. You need to know what to expect and what you can do to make things easier for yourself and the person you are caring for. If caring for your loved one seems like an overwhelming prospect, be sure to consider the alternatives, which include assisted living facilities like Orchard Park.
Share3 March 2016
When I started looking for a care center for my mother, I decided that I needed to learn a little more about nursing home amenities. I wanted her to be in a safe, happy, fun place, but I didn't know what to look for. To make my search easier, I picked up a piece of paper and a pen and started calling different facilities. I made a list of all of the exciting, new features that places were offering, and then I showed the list to my mom. I let her decide where to stay and what she wanted to do. This blog is all about recognizing great nursing home amenities, so that you can keep the people that you love happy and content.