Dear Donna:
For the past 4 years my husband and I have been helping my parents with a variety of tasks. It started out with simple home maintenance like changing the light bulbs in overhead fixtures and mopping the kitchen floor.
Over the last year or so, however, both my mom and my dad have had a serious decline in health. We’ve tried hiring homemaker aides to assist but haven’t found anyone reliable. So, my husband and I are doing everything from picking up groceries and prescriptions to filling their weekly medication organizers.
While we want to support my parents’ needs, both of us work full-time. We just can’t seem to get everything done in a day anymore. Do you have any time-saving tips for family caregivers? We’ve started talking with my mom and dad about moving to assisted living but understand they need to make this decision for themselves.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Roberta in Pittsfield Township, MI
Tips to Help Family Caregivers Manage Their Time
Dear Roberta:
This is one of the questions family caregivers ask us most often! Caring for senior loved ones can be immensely rewarding, but the role often comes with unique challenges. This is particularly true with regard to managing time effectively. Family caregivers usually juggle multiple responsibilities, from providing emotional support to handling practical tasks, like medication management, transportation, personal care, and household chores.
Here are some tips that may help busy caregivers, like you and your husband, save time and reduce stress:
- Establish a routine: Predictability helps reduce anxiety. Try to streamline caregiving tasks into a daily routine for your parents as much as possible. Make a plan that includes a schedule for meals, medication dosages, and other important activities. That will allow you to better accommodate your own needs.
- Utilize technology: Use medication reminder apps or alarms on your smartphone to stay on top of medication schedules, doctor’s appointments, and other time-bound tasks. It can alleviate some of the stress you likely feel about forgetting things. Also, since transportation and waiting for physicians can eat up considerable time, ask if telemedicine is an option. These virtual appointments can allow you to complete other household chores while waiting for the doctor.
- Organize health information: One thing caregivers are often surprised by is the volume of paperwork they accumulate. Shuffling through it can waste a lot of time. A better way to handle this is to create a binder or digital folder with important documents. Include insurance information/paperwork, physician visit summaries, and a list with contact information for healthcare providers. This makes it easy to access information quickly when needed. It will require an initial investment of time, but will save time over the long run.
- Create a medication management system: Many family caregivers worry about their loved one’s medications. A missed dose of an important medicine can land a senior in the emergency room. So can taking too much. Creating a medication system that includes a schedule and pill organizers to sort medications for the week can help. This helps prevent confusion and ensures doses are not missed. There are even systems you can purchase that will sound an alarm at dosage time and text family members if medications aren’t taken. Also consider using a pharmacy that delivers prescriptions to your parents’ doorstep to save time.
- Prioritize self-care: Finally, remember to include your own self-care in your schedule when you are budgeting your time. That means engaging in regular exercise, relaxing, eating well, and having hobbies that bring you joy. Joining an online support group for caregivers might allow you to connect with others who understand your challenges and can provide valuable tips and encouragement.
Respite Care at Heritage Senior Communities
By implementing these time-saving tips and prioritizing self-care, you can navigate the challenges of caregiving more effectively while maintaining your own well-being. One last tip is to explore respite care services at a local assisted living community. These short-term stays allow caregivers time to take a much-needed break.
I hope this information is helpful, Roberta! Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions.
Kind regards,
Donna