Being a caregiver is challenging enough as is. The progression of watching an aging loved one go from independent, to assisted living, and then to memory care can be a difficult road.
There is also another category of caregivers that achieve that label through an unfortunate event that immediately thrusts their loved one into needing care. It can be from an event like a fall to an emergency medical condition like a stroke. If you have suddenly found yourself, be put into the caregiver role, we wanted to share some of the ways you can cope with your newfound duties.
Tip #1: Stay A Team, Don’t Become a Boss
When you see a loved one suffer through a sudden event that takes them from a business-as-usual status to needing constant care, it can be common to try and quarterback all the care decisions. The lingering effects of the event can cause you to start making all care decisions without realizing you aren’t getting your loved one’s input. It is natural as you are trying to do it from a good place but if your loved one can provide their opinions around care options – listen to them.
Tip #2: Don’t Dwell on The Past
We have found one of the biggest struggles that Sudden Caregivers experience is dwelling on how their lives used to be before their loved one needed care. It can be especially troubling if you and your loved one were really active before the event that required care. Focus on caring for your loved one and the time you have with them as opposed to focusing on the activities they can no longer participate in.
Tip #3: Research, Research, and Research
When you have a loved one that goes through a progression of needed care, you will gain knowledge around care options during that progression. If you are suddenly thrust into the caregiver role, you will need to research and gain knowledge around their health condition and possible care options. We would also recommend that you find caregiver resources because that new role can be exhausting both mentally and physically. Don’t be afraid to research on how to handle your new caregiver status.
Tip #4: Time Management is Vital
If you are still trying to manage a family, a career, and other personal duties, becoming a sudden caregiver can throw all of that into a tailspin. You might start getting feelings of guilt when you take personal time for yourself outside of caring for your loved one. It is important to remember that your new caregiver duties can take up large amounts of time and you will need to schedule out times in each day to make sure it doesn’t take over your entire life.
Follow these tips to help guide you in your new role as a caregiver. The event is jarring enough but being a caregiver requires individuals to stay balanced to keep all aspects of their lives running successfully.
