5 Important Things to Consider Before You Become a Family Caregiver

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Things to Think about Before You Become a Family Caregiver in Green Valley, AZ

Becoming a family caregiver is often something done from a place of love and a sense of responsibility. While it’s admirable to be willing to assume this role, it’s also a major decision that should be given some thought before a firm commitment is made. Below are five things to consider before stepping up and assuming the role of family caregiver for a senior loved one.

1. Your Loved One’s Current Care Needs

There’s a difference between caring for a loved one who’s still fairly independent and one with physical or cognitive limitations. Before you assume the role of family caregiver, fully assess your loved one’s current regular care needs. If you need some additional input, your loved one’s doctor should be willing to offer an opinion.

2. Resources You’ll Likely Need

Get a better idea of what kind of resources will likely make caregiving less stressful and more productive for both you and your loved one. While each situation is different, common caregiver resources include:

• Senior transportation services for times when you won’t be able to provide rides
• Local delivery services for things like medication so you’ll be able to spend more time providing direct care
• In-home or respite care for times when you’ll need some extra help or a break to mentally refresh

Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs 24-hour care, Green Valley, AZ, Embrace In-Home Care can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home.

3. How Involved Other Family Members Can Be

Being a family caregiver doesn’t have to be a solitary experience, and it shouldn’t be, for the sake of your own wellbeing. Before you fully commit to being the designated caregiver for your loved one, find out what kind of help other family members may be able to provide. One way to do this is by having a family meeting to discuss your own availability and time constraints. This will give you a chance to get a feel for how much extra support you’ll likely get from other responsible adults in your family.

Families who find it difficult to care for their senior loved ones should consider professional in-home care. Home care professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers.

4. How You’ll Be Able to Juggle Other Responsibilities

Consider how well you’ll be able to balance your personal responsibilities, which might involve working or caring for younger children, with your anticipated caregiving duties. Also, if you believe your loved one will likely need additional care in the near future, it may be a good idea to talk to your employer about paid and unpaid leave options. In-home care can also be helpful if it looks like you’ll have a full to-do list and difficulty balancing things out.

5. Your Own Perosnal Support System

Caring for an older family member can be both emotionally rewarding and draining at various times. For this reason, it can be helpful to get a feel for what kind of personal support system you’ll have to draw on while providing care. These are trusted family members and friends who can help you stay emotionally balanced and mentally focused as you provide care for your loved one. 

Families who need additional assistance caring for their elderly loved ones should consider hiring professional caregivers. Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Green Valley at-home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Embrace In-Home Care is here to help. We will work with you to create a customized home care plan that’s suited for your loved one’s unique needs. Call the Embrace In-Home Care team at (520) 625-2050 today.

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