Learn how to overcome a common caregiver fear of making a harmful mistake.More family caregivers are making this commendable choice each and every day, signifying the beginning of changes in lifestyle they can only truly comprehend once in the middle of them. And even though the rewards of providing care for an adult loved one are immeasurable, they are not lacking multiple challenges as well.
It might seem natural to take care of daily tasks for a loved one; but it is much less easy than it appears at first. For instance, helping a loved one into the shower or bath incorrectly may result in a fall. Poor incontinence care can bring about skin damage and infection. Noncompliance with a prescribed dietary plan can result in a wide range of health problems.
It’s not surprising that in a newly released report provided by AARP, “Home Alone Revisited,” a large number of family caregivers revealed anxiety regarding the potential for making an error in the care they provide. The report spotlights responses from a survey sent to over 2,000 family caregivers, who indicated that even though they thought their care was enabling their loved ones to age at home instead of facing a move to an assisted living or nursing home environment, they conveyed caregiver fear over their competency to execute the tasks required.
Respondents in the survey identified that by far the most emotionally complicated facet of caregiving is incontinence care. And, nearly ¾ of family caregivers interviewed are regularly carrying out medical duties in relation to pain management – tasks for which they wished they’d obtained better instruction and recommendations from the senior’s medical care team.
Heather Young, dean emerita at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at the University of California, Davis (and co-author of this report) explains that, “Too often (family caregivers) are unprepared and do not get the support they need to assume these important roles.”
Asking for support and training in new tasks is vital for family caregivers. Families who need in home care in Portage, MI or other Michigan communities and decide to partner with an experienced in-home care provider, such as Home Sweet Home In-Home Care, eliminate the trepidation and anxiety in managing care in the home successfully. Our caregivers are professionally trained in the many intricacies of aging care and can provide members of the family with the necessary assistance and education. We also offer safe, reliable respite care services that make it possible for family caregivers to step back from their care duties while knowing a senior loved one will be safe and well cared for with our professional in-home care.
Contact us at (866) 229-2505, or at (269) 373-5444 in Kalamazoo, (269) 763-5350 in Paw Paw, (269) 849-9252 in St. Joseph, and (269) 963-9888 in Battle Creek for a complimentary in-home consultation to learn more.