Asking for Help as an Unpaid Family Caregiver
Few family caregivers receive pay for the things they do to help their parents. If their parents qualify for Medicaid and family caregivers are offered payment, it’s rarely a living wage. When those family caregivers have not reached the age to retire, it’s incredibly stressful to try to bring in an income while also caring for their parents.
It would be best if you had an income for health insurance and retirement savings, but you struggle to work and help your parents with their daily tasks. If you’re starting to feel overwhelmed, it’s normal, but it also must be addressed. You need to step up and ask for help.
Have a Clear Care Plan
Home Care Nine Mile Falls, WA: Asking for Help
Watch your parents and let them do things they are capable of doing. It may be faster to do the dishes on your own, but it gives them a sense of pride in knowing they don’t have to rely on you for everything. When they can do something, you need to step back and let them do it.
Write down the tasks they cannot do independently to start building the care to-do lists. Your mom can shower on her own, but she struggles with buttoning her shirts and pants. Helping her get dressed goes onto the care plan. Your dad is no longer able to drive. Transportation goes onto his care plan.
As you build a care plan, note when tasks are done daily and when they’re a weekly chore. Changing sheets and towels isn’t a daily task. Reminding your parents to take their medications is. Note the differences and come up with two lists.
Be Honest About the Things You’re Doing
When you talk to the rest of your family, be honest about the care your parents need. You are cooking all of their meals and doing all of the housework. You help them with bathing and personal care. Plus, you have to drive them to every appointment and to run errands.
Other family members may not realize how much you’re doing. If they see your daily and weekly to-do lists, they may be able to take on some of those tasks. While they help out, take time for self-care.
Know When to Call in Professionals
What if you don’t have anyone to help out? Only children may find it hard to rely on others to help. Family dysfunction can also impact how much help family caregivers can rely on. Home care services are a helpful solution to these issues.
Paid caregivers can take over for a while and allow you to take breaks when needed. Have a day off to run errands, sleep in, or spend time with your immediate family.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Home Care in Nine Mile Falls, WA please contact the caring staff at Angel Senior Care today at (509) 326-4357.
After watching our own family members struggle with the need for compassionate home care, we determined that we could be that caring solution and provide home care in Spokane – not just for our family, but for seniors throughout Spokane County. We like to think of our clients as our extended family, and we treat them with the same dignity and respect our own grandparents and parents would expect to receive.
Our feeling is that while all of our caregivers need to be qualified in terms of certifications and experience, our goal is to hire those that are unique in their drive to show service and respect to the elderly. We hire only those caregivers who share our purpose, passion, and commitment.
Between the two of us, we have more than 30 years’ combined experience in the health care industry and are committed to providing the best Spokane senior care. We have utilized that experience to create a care-centered business model that puts the health and well being of our clients first.
When you entrust the care of your loved one to the experience and commitment of Angel Senior Care, you can rest easy knowing they are looked after, both physically and emotionally.
Sincerely, Vaughn & Donna Young
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