You’ve recently taken on the responsibility of caring for a loved one. Perhaps you’ve been planning this for your aging mother, or perhaps an unexpected accident has rendered your husband unable to carry out his daily routine. Each condition has its own set of needs, and trying to meet them all can be overwhelming. You haven’t prepared emotionally, financially, or physically for navigating a situation like this. However, you must deal with it. You can and will deal with this situation. It’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work because someone you care about is counting on you.
To begin, we’ve put together a guide for first-time carers. Remember to take things slowly at first.
1. You Are Not Alone: Find Support FROM Others
Please don’t think you have to do this on your own. Peer support is extremely important right now. Notify family and friends of your situation. Simply keeping them informed will allow them to offer their support, suggestions, and guidance. If they offer assistance, express gratitude and follow up on their offer after you have established your needs (we’ll go over how to do this later). If it is difficult for you to share information or ask for help, keep in mind that keeping others in the dark and refusing to ask for help can leave you feeling isolated, stressed, overwhelmed, and anxious. Of course, share what and with whom you are most at ease. Look into support groups and online forums.
2. DETERMINE YOUR LOVED ONE’S REQUIREMENTS ( MAKE A LIST)
What are their medical, household, personal, and other requirements? Do they want to move from their home to a facility? Do they require a few hours of care per day or do they need 24-hour care? Make a list of every need, from the smallest to the largest. From laundry assistance to bathing and dressing assistance. It is critical to ask your loved one and allow them to express their needs. Respectfully and patiently listen. This list will be used as a reference guide to ensure that their needs are met and that they receive the highest quality of care possible in order to improve their quality of life.
3. Explore Your CAREGIVER Options
Will you be the primary carer? If this is the case, you must determine whether or not this option is feasible. It may be necessary for you to work less or quit your job entirely in order to restructure your days around a carer. This option is ideal if you have the time and financial resources to be your loved one’s primary carer.
You may not have the time or money to be the primary carer if you have a job and a family of your own. That’s fine. You must investigate your options and select the best one. Here are your choices: A carer can provide in-home care, or you can relocate your loved one to a facility staffed by healthcare professionals.
Finding a Caregiver
Recruit Someone You Know First, and notify family and friends. Your recently graduated college niece may be looking for work, or your retired nurse neighbor may be willing to assist. Just make sure your expectations are clear and that they are qualified for the job.
Pros
Trust- Because you found them through your network, it is assumed that they have highlight high level of credibility and trust.
You have the freedom to select the carer and avoid third-party interference.
Unqualified – Friends and family members may lack the necessary training and thus be unable to meet care needs.
Mixing business and pleasure is something we’ve all done, right? It is always a risk to hire a friend or family member.
Hire a Caregiver
Hire Through a Home Care Agency: Home Care agencies will schedule, facilitate, and monitor care for you. They provide specialized care through Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) who receive formal training to provide basic care and companionship to patients. CNAs undergo background checks and work under the supervision of nurses and doctors in hospitals, private homes, and other facilities.
Pros
- Screened– they have undergone background checks
- Credentials- they have received formal training
- Experience- Agency Caregivers are likely to have experience working with a variety of clients
- Backup care- If you need backup care, agencies will staff immediately
Cons
- Price– it can be a bit pricey to hire a caregiver through an agency
- Minimum hours– each agency has a minimum number of cares hours they can provide
- Caregiver choice– the agency will dispatch caregivers to your home rather than you choosing a caregiver. However, most agencies will accommodate you to meet your satisfaction
Hire a Private Caregiver: Find a private caregiver through registries. They may or may not be formally trained to provide care.
Pros
- Price- it may be cheaper to hire privately than through an agency
- Your rules- with a private caregiver, you don’t need to follow agency rules; you, the caregiver, and the person receiving care make the rules
Cons
- No backup care- you will be without backup care if your caregiver cannot work and you have no backup plan
- Training- private caregivers may not have the same or any formal healthcare training
Now that we’ve touched base on the option of hiring a caregiver, let’s explore looking into care facilities such as assisted living, skilled nursing facilities,
Assisted Living Facilities
Assisted living facilities provide residents with long-term, 24-hour personal care through CNA nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Assisted living facilities are like apartment complexes, residents can choose from studios to multiple-bedroom floor plans. These facilities come with extensive health and wellness services and other essentials for aging adults.
Since this option can be on the pricier side, it may involve a private pay undertaking to afford.
Skilled Nursing Facilities
These facilities are for people who require round-the-clock care and assistance with daily living activities such as eating, bathing, dressing, and so on. Residents of any age are welcome. They are frequently bedridden or have more complex health needs that necessitate the assistance of a skilled nurse, respiratory care, physical and speech therapy, and other services. Residents will most likely share a room with another person.
Skilled nursing facilities, like assisted living facilities, can be more expensive, so applicants should consider payment plans or financial assistance.
4. Create and Implement the Plan
It is time to create the plan after you have found support from others, determined your loved one’s needs, and decided on the type of care method you want. When do you need the help? How will you pay for this care, and who will be in charge of the finances? Consolidate your support group and plan using your checklist as a guideline.
5. Take Care of Yourself
Don’t forget to look after yourself. Balancing caregiving with work and other responsibilities can be difficult. Do not underestimate the amount of energy you will devote to providing sufficient care for your loved one. Maintain your self-care by getting enough sleep and eating healthily to keep your energy levels high. Take time to do things that make you happy and remember to seek help from your support group.
