Taking responsibility for a senior’s care can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be a thankless task. The caregiving job can be a lot easier when there are friends and family members who provide support, which can range from helping out the caregiver to just making him or her feel appreciated. Here are a few ways to honor a family caregiver.
1. Give Small Gifts of Appreciation
A small present every now and then can let a caregiver know you’re thinking of him or her and want to help. The best gifts for supporting caregivers are the things that allow them time to relax or pamper themselves. For example, you could send a spa certificate, have a meal delivered to the caregiver’s house, provide a new book to read, or purchase a box of candies.
Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Oakville Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
2. Help Out with Finances
Offering some form of financial assistance could make a huge difference for a caregiver. You can offer direct assistance or do things like deliver a week’s worth of groceries to the house, cover the utility bills for a month, or pay for a respite caregiver.
Oakville respite care professionals can assist seniors with a wide array of daily tasks, offering family caregivers the chance to focus on other personal responsibilities or take a break to prevent burnout. Whether it’s for a few hours a day or a few days a week, respite care is the perfect solution for family caregivers who are feeling overwhelmed.
3. Affirm the Caregiver’s Decisions
Making choices about another person’s wellbeing can be exhausting, and many caregivers find it even more disheartening when they have family members and friends criticizing them. Instead of piling on the doubts, tell your caregiver friend that he or she is a capable and smart caregiver. Avoid telling the caregiver how to do things differently or offering unsolicited advice.
4. Continue to Keep in Touch
Many caregivers report that the most difficult part of the job is the isolation that comes with it. Caregivers aren’t trying to end their friendships when they turn down offers to socialize. They’re often just too busy. Invite your caregiver friend out more often, and use email or phones to chat with him or her as frequently as you can. Be prepared to talk at unusual times that match the caregiver’s schedule.
5. Assist with Caregiving Tasks
One of the best ways to let caregivers know you appreciate their hard work is by offering help with daily tasks. Offer to pick up prescriptions, watch the senior for an hour or two, or drive the senior to appointments. These types of help can give the caregiver a break to get some rest.
Aging in place can present a few unique challenges for older adults. Some only require part-time assistance with exercise or meal preparation, while others are living with serious illnesses and benefit more significantly from receiving live-in care. Oakville, ON, Home Care Assistance are leaders in the elderly in-home care industry for good reason. We tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual needs, our caregivers continue to receive updated training in senior care as new developments arise, and we also offer comprehensive care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s. To schedule a free in-home consultation, call one of our professional Care Managers at (905) 337-1200 today.