The most common approach to becoming a caregiver for a family member? Panic. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
While no one has a crystal ball, we have created an infographic to help families and friends review what might need to be done in advance. Consider these essential aspects to anticipating the needs of someone as they age or live with a chronic condition.
Preparing to Become a Caregiver for a Family Member
Taking caregiving preparation one step at a time is the best way to keep it from getting overwhelming while also ensuring all of the essentials are covered.
Prepare to care for a loved one by working through each of these six steps:
Communicate
Have an open, honest, clear conversation with your loved one about their wishes for their care, and share your needs and concerns as well. This is also the time to have discussions with anyone else who will be involved, including siblings and members of your household who will also be affected by your decision to become a family caregiver.
Research
This step is vital to making your caregiving journey as seamless as possible. Find out if there are options for in-home companion care or other assistance in your area. Everyone needs a hand sometimes, and knowing your options ahead of time will keep you from having to scramble at the last minute when you need support.
If your family member has any health issues, this is also the ideal time to learn as much as you can about the kind of care they require for it and which medications they take.
Collect contact information for your loved one’s doctors, pharmacist, other healthcare providers, friends, and essential service providers, like their hairdresser, case worker, or handyman. You may end up having to make appointments or pay bills for them at some point, so having this information on hand will save you stress later.
Consider Financial Issues
Learn about veteran benefits, long-term care insurance, and other resources that are available to you and your loved one as you undertake their care. This is also a good time to find out what kind of insurance policies your loved one already has to pay for care or assistance.
Build a Care Team
Preparing to care for a loved one also means building a support team. This could include siblings and other family members, neighbors, and friends. It’s vital to understand from the beginning that one person shouldn’t expect to do everything by themselves. The more support you have as a family caregiver, the better.
The care team will also include your loved one’s doctors and nurses, as well as any in-home or companion care professionals you decide to enlist.
Legal Planning
Care preparations should also include finding out who has power of attorney for your loved one (if it’s not you). If it’s not already in writing, get those documents drawn up and signed for when you need them. This will save complications and confusion later on.
Safety Check
If your loved one is aging in place in their own home, you’ll want to make sure their space is as safe and secure as possible. This includes things like having handrails and a bench in the tub/shower where they might need them, removing tripping hazards, and making sure all areas are accessible.
Your local Homewatch CareGivers can help with this. We offer a complimentary in-home safety evaluation to assess any possible risks in the home and provide recommendations for making the space work better for your loved one.
Add Homewatch CareGivers to Your Support Team
Talking with family about their desires ahead of time is the first step in putting plans into place that will benefit everyone involved. Enlist the professionals at Homewatch CareGivers to supplement your loved one’s home care team. Schedule companion or other in-home caregiving services or call 888-404-5191 today.
