It seems like it was just yesterday that your parent or loved one was taking care of you, but now you’re a caregiver. No matter what the cause was, if you’ve had to step in with medical, housing, insurance or other assistance, you’ve become a senior caregiver.
At Willow Brook, many of our associates are senior caregivers themselves. While it is rewarding, becoming a caregiver for a parent can be challenging. But it’s not a journey you have to go through alone. We want to make it easier for senior caregivers to find the support they need.
In this blog post, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 resources that can help you make the unfamiliar transition to becoming a caregiver easier and more successful for your loved one. If you find this post helpful, be sure to return to our blog page frequently for more advice and tips about caregiving for your senior loved ones.
At Willow Brook, we know navigating all the available senior service options can be overwhelming. Every day we hear from people who are not sure what type of living arrangements or eldercare would best fit their loved one’s needs, both now and in the future. That’s why we created this guide to help you or your loved one choose the right path.
It’s hard to let go of a lifetime of possessions, especially those that hold memories of special times. And yet, when it’s time to transition to senior care, not every item can make the move. These tips will help you help your loved one decide what to keep and what to leave behind.
Assisting someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia can introduce senior caregivers to new challenges. Being reasonable and logical sometimes won’t work. And asking instead of telling can just cause confusion. If you’re loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia, this article can bring clarity to how you can help them.
Senior living experts estimate that children provide approximately $6,000 per year to support their parents as senior caregivers. Being creative in finding flexibility in your budget is critical to making sure your loved one gets the care they need. This article outlines ways to fund senior care.
Becoming a caregiver for your parent can be stressful. Caregivers may suffer from social isolation, depression, financial difficulties and more. That’s why it’s important as a senior caregiver to find ways to relieve stress. There are many sources of support you can lean on. Explore these tips from the Mayo Clinic to get started.
One of the best resources for caregivers is being around people who know what you’re going through. SourcePoint in Delaware County, Ohio, offers free caregiver support groups led by a trained staff. It’s a place where you can meet with other caregivers to ask questions and share concerns. These are located in four locations in the county, including at Willow Brook Christian Village. Several local family caregivers share experiences, meet other caregivers, discover new resources and ask questions. Monthly support groups allow senior caregivers to engage with those on a similar journey caring for a loved one.
Senior caregiving requires you to build relationships. You’ll be dealing with doctors, nurses, social workers and other medical providers. You need to be up to date on your loved one’s ongoing care, their medications and any changes in their medical condition. Most importantly, building closer relationships with healthcare providers is key to success. Here’s a helpful caregiver resource that can make medical care easier.
Making good decisions about healthcare and finances are hard enough when you’re healthy and independent. But when your loved ones need extra assistance, they may find it difficult to make informed decisions. Establishing powers of attorney for healthcare and finances according to the wishes of your loved ones will ensure they are protected, and their wishes are followed.
It’s important to help loved ones stay active as they age. Regular exercise can boost their energy, avoid depression, maintain memory and stay social. Understanding the many exercise options available to your loved one will help you encourage them to stay active. Even people with limited mobility can enjoy exercise, as discussed in this article – exercising with limited mobility.
Age alone isn’t a sufficient reason to have your loved one hang up their car keys. But a loss of good eyesight or physical limitations can make them a danger to themselves and others on the road. One of the biggest misunderstandings among elderly is that they will be isolated without their car. But there are many transportation options available to them as discussed in this article, Finding Transportation Service for Seniors.
When it comes to helping your loved one transition to a senior care community, it’s important that all parties are heard and respected. At Willow Brook, we offer quality senior care services so that every resident has an opportunity to live a vibrant, purposeful life where independence is encouraged.
To learn more about how we can help you plan ahead for your loved ones, contact us today. Our friendly counselors are here to answer your questions and have experience supporting senior caregivers.
