The transition into the role of a family caregiver comes with its own set of challenges—one of the biggest being understanding exactly what your loved one might need from you. The responsibilities of caregiving vary from person to person, but there are a few consistent services most seniors require. While it naturally varies from person to person, there are a few consistent services to expect.
Personal care
One of the primary responsibilities of a caregiver is assisting with personal care. This covers a broad range of duties, including helping with bathing, dressing, toileting, and general grooming. Many seniors find these tasks increasingly difficult as they age, whether due to mobility issues or general weakness.
Assisting with personal care can be sensitive for both you and your loved one. It’s important to approach these tasks with compassion and respect to help maintain your loved one’s dignity and confidence. Providing home care services that ensure personal hygiene is maintained plays a significant role in their overall health and happiness.
Home management
Daily housekeeping or maintaining a home can grow challenging for seniors, particularly those dealing with arthritis, warning signs of aging, or other mobility concerns. Tasks like washing dishes, vacuuming, and doing laundry may become overwhelming, which could lead to clutter and potential safety hazards. In these cases, taking over some or all of these light housekeeping duties will help your loved one maintain a clean and safe living environment.
For seniors who may require home care, addressing home management tasks ensures that their environment is organized, which directly impacts their physical health and mental well-being.
Medication reminders
Many seniors take a wide array of medications and supplements to ensure they stay in top health. As the number of pills increases, however, it can be difficult to discern what needs to be taken and when. As your loved one’s caregiver, you may be responsible for setting up an easy-to-use reminder system. This way, they can always be certain they took the right amount of medication at the right time.
Meal preparation
Just as housekeeping can grow difficult, so can meal preparation. On top of cooking the meal, things like planning for it, grocery shopping, and cleaning up afterward can be positively exhausting to many older adults. This can lead seniors to unhealthier meals, like microwave dishes or fast food.
By assisting with meal preparation, you ensure your loved one receives nutritious meals that support their overall health. You might also involve them in the process to maintain their sense of independence. Whether it’s preparing vegetables or setting the table, these small tasks can help them feel engaged in their care and more connected to their daily routine.
Errands
While running errands might be a simple, albeit irritating, task for you, it isn’t quite as easy for many seniors. Eye conditions, like cataracts or glaucoma, may keep your loved one off the road. Alternatively, if your loved one has mobility issues or uses a wheelchair, they may have difficulties navigating the aisles of a store.
Running errands takes the at-times stressful task off the shoulders of your loved one. While you pick up their medication, groceries, or deliver something to the post office, your loved one can focus on their other personal needs.
Companionship
While the importance of tasks like personal care and medication reminders is clear, caring for an aging loved one involves helping with both their mental and physical health. Living at home alone can be isolating. One of the best ways to provide mental health care to your loved one is by acting as a companion for them.
Make an effort to engage in meaningful conversations, listen to their concerns, and participate in activities they enjoy. Whether it’s sharing a meal, playing a board game, or simply having a light-hearted conversation, providing companionship has great benefits. They provide emotional support and help combat feelings of loneliness.
Recognizing the Warning Signs That Your Loved One Requires Home Care
As time goes on, it’s essential to stay vigilant for warning signs that your loved one may need additional help. Increased forgetfulness, difficulty maintaining personal hygiene, and an inability to keep up with household chores are all signals that they might benefit from home care services.
Whether your loved one is aging in place or in senior living, these signs should not be ignored, as they indicate a need for more consistent and professional care.
Be paid for the support you already provide
Through conversation with your loved one, your family members, and their health care provider, you can best determine what your loved one needs help with. If you want to be certain you’re offering the best care possible, consider becoming a family caregiver with us.
At Home Care Powered by AUAF, we proudly train family caregivers so they are not only up to date with the latest practices in the field, but receive compensation for said work. If you’re curious about our program, give us a call at (773) 274-9262.
