18 November 2017

Aging Parent Caregiving Tips for Busy Moms



As our parents age there are different obstacles that must be navigated.  Discussions surrounding living arrangements and care are often brought up.  Some people may decide to go with live-in care and others decide to become the primary caregiver for their loved ones.  If you are a busy mom you may be feeling overwhelmed at times trying to juggle the many roles you have in your daily life.  The following are tips to help busy moms who are also the caregiver of their aging parent.


Take Time for Yourself

It can often be too easy to forget about your own needs, especially as a mom.  Add on the role of caregiver to an aging parent and this task seems nearly impossible for many.  Finding some personal time you can set aside each week that is dedicated to you and your needs can help prevent burnout and will help you feel recharged.  Go out to coffee or to a restaurant with friends, join a book club, start a garden, or go see a movie.  It is important to remember that first you must take care of yourself if you want to give the best possible care to others.


Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Going along with taking time for yourself, it is important that you ask for help if needed.  While being a super mom is a worthwhile goal, sometimes even super moms need a helping hand!  Family members you trust to help provide care can be a great asset to call on when you need a break.  There are also many great agencies such as a dementia home care agency within your community that have caregivers that will provide in home care.  These agencies do background checks and can place the appropriately trained caregiver with your loved one.


Connect with Others

Another way that you can prevent caregiver burnout is by connecting with others within your community.  You could join a local support group for other parents who are also primary caregivers of an aging loved one.  It may be nice to also have someone to talk to, such a counselor.  The goal is to build up your support network so that you can truly feel supported in your role.  This in turn will give you more connections to resources that may be appropriate for your needs and can also give you a listening ear.  Last but not least, remember to give yourself a pat on the back!  Self-acknowledgement can often times be as powerful and outside acknowledgement.




 


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