Being a family caregiver adds extra tasks to your busy to-do list. No matter if you are helping out with personal care and dropping off groceries because you live near your loved one, or making doctor appointments from many miles away, you are doing the hard work to keep your loved one as healthy as possible.
While there is no one way to make caregiving easier, you might find that you feel less stressed if you can understand what might be coming next. Knowing what potential challenges could be on the horizon can help you plan accordingly so that you are not necessarily blindsided when conditions change.
Here are a few questions you can ask yourself a few times throughout the year to help you know what to follow up on with your loved one’s medical team.
How is my aging loved one keeping up with her household tasks?
If your loved one lives alone or with a partner, one way you can tell if they are doing well is by taking a look at the state of their home. Seniors will often push aside household tasks like cleaning up after meals, laundry, and tidying up if they are feeling tired or weak. So, an unmade bed that is typically made up perfectly can be an indicator that something else might be going on.
How is my loved one’s personal care and hygiene?
Another set of tasks that can be pushed aside due to decreased strength, lower endurance, or even increased pain or confusion can be personal care tasks. Is your loved one wearing the same clothes over and over? Do they look disheveled? Do they have an odor that they didn’t have before? These observations can point you in the direction of seeking out some support and finding out why these tasks are not happening regularly.
Is my loved one socializing? Are they able to coordinate social activities on their own, or do they need some help?
Connecting with peers and fostering friendships is an important key to successful aging. Check in on your loved one’s social calendar. Are they meeting up with friends and neighbors regularly? Don’t rely on family visits only, as research points to peer connections as the most important when trying to combat poor health outcomes that come with loneliness.
How is my loved one’s pain? Am I asking about pain regularly? Are they expressing verbal or nonverbal signs of pain?
Pain is often overlooked and undertreated in the senior population. Ensure you are giving your loved one the opportunity to express whether they are in pain or not. Ask them at least once per visit. Look for nonverbal signs of pain, such as being distracted, pacing, tapping a certain part of their body, limping, or acting more grouchy than usual.
What chronic symptoms does my loved one show?
Even if your loved one does not have complex medical needs, you might notice they are showing consistent symptoms over time. For example, does Mom cough a lot during the nighttime when you visit? Does Dad keep having urinary tract infections? Reflect on this a few times each year, as it could help you inform their physician about some trends you notice.
We Can Help
If your loved one is struggling with personal care tasks, household chores, socialization, or other issues, let us help. Our caregivers are experienced and ready to step in to provide a helping hand that can lead to your loved one having increased confidence, peace of mind, energy, and strength. Contact us to learn more about how we can come alongside you and your loved one.