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Step 1
Take care of yourself. To help someone else, you yourself must be in the best possible mental and physical health. Becoming exhausted, stressed, and depressed yourself, will seriously affect the care you are capable of giving. You must eat well, get sufficient rest, exercise, and find time to enjoy your own personal private life. Include in each days schedule some time just for you.
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Step 2
Learn all you can about the person in your care. If you gain more understand about aging, any diseases, mental and physical, as well as any forms of disability that may be involved, you will be more helpful, patient, and more able to accept, and adapt to aspects of life that may otherwise seem merely time-consuming, difficult, and even annoying.
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Step 3
Talk to the person's doctor, nurse, family and friends. Without interfering, learn all you can about their early life, interests, skills, family, hopes, worries, and fears. People you did not know well will become closer to you the more you learn about them, and you will be able to do more to set their minds at ease and make life more pleasurable for them. This will increase your feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction, even when aspects of the job may feel overpowering.
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Step 4
Encourage and empower. Do not coddle. People can often do more that we give them credit for. If they are able, let them take some responsibility for their own care and thus have a feeling of accomplishment, and by so doing, let yourself have a moment of rest. If the person in your care is not bedridden, there are many things that can be done around the house to make living easier for them. Occupational Therapists work in this area. See if your doctor can arrange for a visit by one of these trained specialists.
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Step 5
Get help. Caregivers often feel isolated, overworked, depressed and even resentful. Don't let this happen. Appeal to family, friends and neighbors for help. Even an hour a day will help. An afternoon or evening once a week is ideal. You can take a walk, read a book, or take a relaxing bath, secure in the fact that your charge is in good hands. If you have no one to help, speak to your doctor, phone social services, Veterans' Affairs, or your minister. Join a support group. Never allow yourself to become isolated. Do not feel that because your finances are limited you have to go it alone. There is help out there. Look for it.
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Step 6
Learn about other resources available. There are adult day-care centers where crafts, and activities are geared to adult interests. There are residential facilities that offer respite care lasting several days or weeks. Some facilities are available for couples, one of whom may need intensive care which the other is not able to give. There are programs for end-of-life care that allow the patient to remain at home but supply professionals who visit frequently enough to provide all necessary medical services. Hospices are home-like facilities available for end-of-life patients. Talk to your doctor or phone social services to learn what is available in your particular area. You may qualify for financial assistance so check into this as well.
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Step 7
Know that what you are doing is making a difference. Take pride in what you are doing. Remember that your health and happiness will reflect directly on the person for whom you are caring. Take care of yourself.
Comments
barba0727 said
on 8/4/2009 great tips on being a caregiver for elderly or disabled. 5*
centexmom said
on 7/23/2009 Great advice. It is very stressful but worthwhile.
Coach4U said
on 7/10/2009 How to be a more effective caregiver is a terrific artical full of valuable information. You have to take good care of yourself before you can take care of someone else. My sister and I are helping our Mom; we are fortunate to have two of us as we take turns visiting and helping every other day. "5"
Derren said
on 7/6/2009 Great article.
AllFYB said
on 6/23/2009 Every step here is important when caring for someone who has lost the ability to care for themselves. Thanks for the great article.