The COVID-19 pandemic threw everyone’s lives into disarray and some groups were particularly hard hit. Seniors have struggled more than most, as they are more likely to develop the virus. Because of this, it’s crucial for them, as well as for their family members and caregivers, to social distance and to follow all of the Centers for Disease Controls’ instructions (CDC).
To get the most out of remote caregiver support services, caregivers and care recipients, as well as carers and healthcare practitioners, must communicate frequently and regularly. Self-care is also important because caregivers’ anxieties about keeping their loved ones safe in the middle of the pandemic crisis increase their stress and anxiety.
Thankfully, there are still ways to make things easier. In this post, we highlight 11 important areas, along with tips and tricks for each of them. Following some of this advice can make your caregiving journey less overwhelming.
Legal
Ensure that you are aware of and have handled the legal requirements so that you can work effectively as a caregiver.
A power of attorney may be required to assist a loved one with financial decisions. Discuss your long-term wishes with your parents and see if they are formalized in a living will or advanced directive. To make healthcare decisions, you’ll need a healthcare power of attorney or to be appointed as a healthcare surrogate.
AARP offers a legal checklist for family caregivers that can help you to identify any current gaps in your legal planning. You can also check out our Advance Planning series for insights on end-of-life planning.
Information
Information is a crucial feature of providing good care and support. The more you know, the easier it is to support your loved one.
Talking to your loved one’s health care practitioners is the most powerful approach. Inquire about access to patient portals and ask what information you can access through the portal. You’ll often find visit summaries, lab and diagnostic test results, referrals, health plan authorizations, and more.
Check that the healthcare provider has up-to-date records too. This includes contact details for you, correct medication information, and details about any symptoms your family member is experiencing. Doing this is crucial, as your loved one’s records are consulted when medical advice is provided. If these records are wrong, then the medical advice may be incorrect too.
You and your loved one may need to fill in some paperwork so that you have access to their medical information. Otherwise, they’re the only ones that will have access. Remember too that some aging parents prefer to take care of their own health and may not want you to have access to their records.
Always bring along any important paperwork, like the patient’s advance directives, health care surrogate or health care power of attorney forms, and any modifications to each health care professional.
Support Network
Caregiving comes with plenty of challenges on its own. Physical separation can make things even more difficult, especially if you’re trying to coordinate support services and making sure your family member stays safe.
Assist in the care of your loved one by making sure your family and friends are aware of the additional measures they must take, like wearing a mask and washing their hands frequently.
Join an online caregiver network, such as AARP (they have an excellent Virtual Community Center), the Family Caregiver Alliance, or AgingCare for further support, or get information from one of the many caregiver support websites.
Do not be frightened or embarrassed to speak with your loved one’s health care doctors about any concerns! They may know of other resources that can help you.
Self-Care
Self-care is a crucial aspect of being a caregiver. This means making sure that you meet your own wants and needs. If you don’t do this, then you won’t have the emotional or physical energy needed to support your loved one.
While self-care can seem difficult – it isn’t impossible.
The first step is to let go of the guilt, as much as you can. Realize that your needs matter. Putting your needs above your loved one from time to time doesn’t make you a bad person. Not at all. Doing so means that you’re human and you’re valuable too.
Combining self-care and self-compassion is a powerful approach. Doing so gives you a framework to support yourself from while helping you see that you’re not alone.
Caregiver Stress
You may be so focused on your loved one as a caregiver that you don’t notice your own health and well-being is suffering.
Feeling overwhelmed or continually anxious, being weary all of the time, having too much or too little sleep, gaining or losing weight, becoming easily agitated or angry, or losing interest in activities you used to like are all indicators of caregiver stress.
Respite care is one of the most powerful options. Here, someone else looks after your family member for a while, giving you the chance to recover and ground yourself.
If a full respite isn’t possible, look for other ways to decrease your stress, such as asking for help and looking for shortcuts to decrease your workload.
Medical Equipment
Caregivers must ensure that any medical equipment is in good working order and that elders receive clear instructions on how to use their medical equipment.
Some medical equipment companies will also offer remote services to assist caregivers and seniors in ensuring that their devices are in good working order.
Physical Activity and Fitness
Because elderly people are the most vulnerable during the epidemic, they will spend less time outside. Seniors are especially vulnerable to lack of exercise, so caregivers should urge family members to exercise indoors.
Seniors can participate in virtual exercise classes thanks to video check-ins, which not only keeps them fit and healthy but also allows them to socialize. Even highly social classes like Zumba now have some online options.
You might even join the same virtual exercise class as your family member. This helps to keep them accountable and could be food for you too.
Hygiene and Basic Needs
Hygiene is always important. It can become even more so for seniors during the pandemic, as cleaning themselves regularly may start to feel pointless if they rarely get to go out.
Caregivers can help by gently promoting their family members. However, it’s important to remember that the senior has the right to make decisions for themselves too. They may not agree with all your suggestions and you cannot force them to do so. Because of this, it’s important to respect the senior’s autonomy by making suggestions – not commands.
Pick your battles too. If the senior in your life showers every second day rather than every day, is there really a problem to be solved? Even if you think they should shower more often, they’re still staying clean enough to be healthy.
Finally, caregivers should ensure that seniors are well-supplied, especially because the epidemic is causing delivery delays and certain hygiene supplies are in low supply.
If shopping isn’t easy for the senior, be sure to check in with them regularly to make sure they have what they need. You could even sign them up for regular shipments of key supplies, so that they don’t run out.
Essential supplies include everything from regular food to adult diapers and briefs, as well as recommended prescriptions. Making a weekly checklist might assist caregivers and seniors stay on track with what’s required.
Technology
Our reliance on technology has jumped dramatically in the last year or so. We’re now relying on virtual meetings and consultations more than ever before, with many of us also ordering supplies online, rather than visiting local stores. Some people are now working from home rather than in an office, which changes many aspects of their life.
This focus on technology helps to keep everyone safe.
Still, technology presents plenty of new challenges too. Seniors and caregivers both need to learn how to navigate the technology well and to troubleshoot any problems that arise.
Staff at the Caregiver Support Initiative and comparable programs are available to assist you at this tough time and can provide step-by-step instructions.
Journaling
A journal is a useful tool that is often underestimated. While it often takes time to get into the habit of journaling, most people that do so find the process well worth the effort.
Journaling offers a way to get your thoughts and feelings out of your body and onto paper instead. Doing so can dramatically lower your stress levels, helping you to feel much better.
It helps if you can find the right type of journal for your personality and needs. Bullet journals, like this one, are fantastic for anyone who enjoys being creative. You could also look for a mindfulness or gratitude journal, like this one. Such journals provide you with guidance and help you to keep a positive focus.
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