There will come a time when your parents or loved ones may eventually require full time caregiving at home. There are a number of ways this can be done successfully. They all require some preparation and planning as well as cooperation from the entire family.
The ideal situation, depending on the patient’s overall health, would be to keep them in their own home for as long as possible. Another alternative is to move them into your home.
If they are able to be mostly independent with some supervision throughout the day then an occasional visit or phone call should suffice, but as symptoms progress, they will need more and more help with the activities of daily living.
If your loved one requires constant care and you are able to move into their home this might make them more co-operative since they will be surrounded by their own familiar things. But whether they live in their home, Alex from TrustedCare shares some tips to make caregiving at home easier.
Contract
Fulltime caregiving at home requires time, energy, patience, and commitment from everyone in the family. If you live alone then you will need outside help, perhaps in the form of a housecleaner or respite care while you care for yourself.
If you live with other family members make sure that everyone is clear on what needs to be done. If possible, assign tasks to those who are old enough to help with the caregiving.
Consider drawing up a contract between the adults and older teens. The contract can cover the responsibilities of each person. Caregiving at home is a difficult task and there is much to be done. Knowing what each person is in charge of ensures that everything is accomplished with much less stress.
Schedule
Make up a regular schedule for the family to follow. This doesn’t have to be rigid. If you are dealing with dementia, a rigid schedule will probably lead to frustration.
But a general idea of what you do each morning, after lunch, and in the evening will help ensure that jobs get done and that your loved one has enough stimulation each day.
Try to schedule medical appointments on the same day of the week every time. Have a certain day for grocery shopping and errand running. Plan basic menus for each week. These regular routines will relieve much stress.
Safety
Monitor your home for tripping hazards, choking hazards, and sharp objects. Caregiving at home requires diligence. you don’t want your home to become hospital-like, but at the same time it needs to be a clean and safe environment. Pay extra attention to those things that could cause harm.
Simplicity
Dementia causes confusion. The more outside stimuli the dementia patient has to deal with the more difficult it will be for them to participate in tasks like eating a meal, brushing their teeth, or playing a game.
The ultimate goal for caregiving at home is for the individual to be at home and able to be a part of a family. Reducing clutter will not only make more room for necessary medical equipment but will also reduce the distractions that can cause a person to be uncooperative.
Activities
Life is so much more than just being sure everyone in the family is fed, clean, and clothed, and that the house is clean. There will be some days (maybe even weeks!) when this is all that gets done but make it your goal to participate in some kind of activity each day.
Painting, baking, singing and dancing, watching old movies, playing with grandchildren, visiting with friends, the list could go on and on. Find things that you both enjoy and do them. Caregiving at home is already busy and stressful. It doesn’t have to be boring too!
For further information on home care, respite care and a range of care options visit TrustedCare.co.uk.
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