Providing care for an aging loved one can be difficult. Quite often there can be frustration as your loved one’s need for continued independence conflicts with heath or other care needs.
Here are some tips for providing care for an aging loved one.
Talk Frequently
Do not let bad feelings build up between you and your loved one by having miscommunicated information. Be upfront with your feelings and listen to what they have to say. Do not assume that they will agree with you on the type or types of caregiving that you wish to give them.
Respect Their Independence
Remember that your loved one might not see what you are seeing. Starting off confrontationally about things that they “need to do” might build up resistance to what is best for them. Listen to them and share your concerns before you begin to chastise them on what they “ought to be doing.”
Inform Yourself about Options
Make sure that you know about what your loved one is going through. Also, make sure you are aware of all the care options that are available for people in their situation. This goes for the financial area as well. Do not let yourself be blindsided by high costs or things that programs like Medicare will not cover.
Do Not Forget Yourself
If you are not cared for, you cannot care for others. Do not sacrifice your wellbeing for your loved ones. You both lose if that happens.
