As mentioned in my last post, Five Tips For The Beginning Caregiver. It is very important to have a plan as to who will be available to assist you as the primary caregiver of your family member. Even if you are going to be the primary caregiver who physically cares for your family member, it is very important that you develop a plan for those times when you may need to run an errand, go to your own medical appointments, and for times of respite (rest and relaxation.)
Possible options you may want to consider include: other family members who may want to assist with the care of your loved one, paid individuals or services, volunteers from your faith community, and community social agencies.
Most counties in the United States have a Council on Aging that they are affiliated with, and I have found this agency to be a great starting point for available resources for the elderly in local communities.
Once a decision has been made as to who will help you care for your family member, I recommend developing a schedule which is posted so that everyone who is involved in the care of your family member will be able to see which times they are scheduled to assist in the care of your loved one.
Again, the items discussed above are not exhaustive, however I hope that it is a starting point for those individuals who have found themselves on the journey of caregiving.
In my next post I will discuss the second tip from my Five Tips For The Beginning Caregiver in a little more detail.
Helping Families Support Our Seniors,
Cynthia
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