Overcoming Common Caregiver Issues to Become a Better Advocate for Seniors

Trusting someone you love to the care of somebody else is never easy, especially for an older family member. Whether at home or in a facility, you’ll have questions you need answered. You will also want to be prepared to advocate for the senior to proactively address any potential problems and to immediately resolve problems that do come about. For instance, examine the following typical situations and how to most effectively advocate if they occur with an older adult you love:

• You live at a distance. Thanks to technology, it is much easier than ever to remain close to a long-distance relative and to keep a finger on the pulse of how things are going. Zoom, FaceTime, or Skype with the senior regularly to check in. If a family portal is available for the care provider and family members to share notes and comments, take advantage of this communication tool. And in case you’re unable to visit in person, ask a friend or other family member who lives nearby to drop in regularly.
• You are worried about challenging behaviors. If the senior is susceptible to aggression, wandering, angry outbursts, hoarding, or any of a variety of other difficult behaviors, you might feel ashamed or embarrassed. Though you may prefer not to discuss the issue, it is best to share this openly with the care provider. More likely than not, they have knowledge about effectively working with a wide range of personalities and personal nuances, and will be able to incorporate strategies that will work most effectively together with your loved one.
• Your loved one has dementia. A senior with dementia may not be able to effectively communicate their wishes and needs. As an example, a new caregiver may not know that Dad wears inserts in his shoes and she may put his shoes on each day without them. Dad might not know how to communicate this need or might have forgotten about this need and start to become uncomfortable that day. Or he might act out because he could be experiencing discomfort, which might lead to other issues. As the older adult’s voice, be sure to share even the littlest details about the person’s preferences with the care provider.

Home Sweet Home In-Home Care, a trusted provider of senior care in Saint Joseph and the surrounding areas, partners with families, working together to guarantee the highest quality of care and life for seniors, through personalized services such as:

• Transportation and accompaniment
• Personal care for safe baths/showers, getting dressed, etc.
• Running errands
• Light housekeeping and laundry
• Meal planning and preparation
• Companionship for fun conversations and activities
• And much more

Email us or call  (866) 229-2505 for a complimentary in-home consultation to allow us to get to know one another and to develop a care plan to best meet the needs of an older adult you love.