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Why do people with Alzheimer's remember old memories?
Caregiving

Why do people with Alzheimer’s remember old memories?

by Silverado
written by Silverado

Navigating the journey of a loved one’s memory loss to Alzheimer’s can be quite difficult, particularly understanding why some memories fade while older memories may be resurrected. A common question is why–and how–does someone with Alzheimer’s remember old memories while new memories fade? Though the workings of the brain can still be mysterious in a lot of ways, research has suggested a few reasons. Why do people with Alzheimer’s remember old memories?
The best explanation is that Alzheimer’s affects recent memories first, debilitating retention of new information. Memories of childhood or from long ago are well encoded since the person has had longer to process and remember specific events. In contrast, when Alzheimer’s symptoms start to show, think of “Last in, first out.” It can be difficult for a person with dementia to remember something from 20 minutes ago. Why do people with Alzheimer’s remember old memories?
More technically speaking, new experiences or memories register in the part of the brain called the hippocampus, which sends the memory to the brain’s “storage bank.” When Alzheimer’s develops, the hippocampus is one of the first areas to be affected. Because that area of the brain can’t remember a new memory or person, the hippocampus can’t assist in “retrieving” the memory from the storage bank. These new memories also don’t have as much emotional attachment to them, as other memories stored in a different area of the brain, which suggests why it’s so difficult to retain a new memory.

Alzheimer’s affects the brain in such a way that even those long-term memories will fade over time as well. Why do people with Alzheimer’s remember old memories?
Sources:
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/memory-loss-in-alzheimers-148992.htm
https://www.caring.com/questions/alzheimers-patients-remember-past

Why do people with Alzheimer’s remember old memories?

Why do people with Alzheimer’s remember old memories? Why do people with Alzheimer’s remember old memories? Why do people with Alzheimer’s remember old memories? Why do people with Alzheimer’s remember old memories?

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Simple Strategies for Caregivers to Practice Self-Care
Caregiving

Simple Strategies for Caregivers to Practice Self-Care

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Caregivers have a difficult time getting away from caregiving to take a vacation or even a spa day. However, it is critical to a caregiver’s well-being to take time for themselves and practice self-care. So, how can you work self-care into your life to preserve your well-being? I’ve rounded up 20 easy self-care activities you can do at home that take less than 20 minutes.

While you may think, I can’t even take 20 minutes for myself, remember, it is crucial to your health that you take time for self-care. It isn’t selfish to practice self-care, it is necessary.

When you don’t set aside time for self-care, it can adversely affect your health. Living with constant stress can cause a number of health issues from obesity to gastrointestinal problems and heart disease. So no matter how much you have on your plate, squeezing in time to care for yourself benefits you now and in the future.

Simple Self-Care for Caregivers

If you have been taking care of other people for so long that you don’t even know how to start practicing self-care, here are some simple things you can do at home. I promise, they don’t take a lot of time or cost a lot of money so anyone can fit them in to their busy lives.

  1. Drink a hot cup of tea, alone, in silence.
  2. Keep a gratitude journal and write three things you are grateful for at the end of each day. (If you’re struggling to come up with things, here are some givens: You woke up today, your caree woke up today, someone in the world loves you).
  3. Create a music playlist of your 5 favorite songs and play it either in the morning to get pumped for the day or at the end of the day to relax. If that is too much work, download the (free) Pandora or Spotify app and find a relaxing station to listen to before bed. My favorite is the Spa station on Pandora.
  4. Look through old photos (either in an album or on your phone) to reminisce about happy times.
  5. Do some feel-good personal grooming – paint your fingernails, file your nails and put lotion on your arms, hands and feet or do a face mask or deep hair condition.
  6. Read a magazine, book or short story.
  7. Watch a YouTube video – pick a few funny videos, a TED talk or a meditative video.
  8. Pick up a coloring book, colored pencils and get to work on this soothing activity.
  9. Take a 20 minute nap.
  10. Do a crossword puzzle or play a game of Solitaire or an online game like Candy Crush or Chess.
  11. Write a letter to your caree or a friend.
  12. Read quotes by Rumi.
  13. Take a long, hot shower or bath.
  14. Sit in silence and just breathe for 5 minutes.
  15. Bake yourself an individual treat like a microwave mug cake (you can find recipes on Pinterest or through Google).
  16. Try progressive muscle relaxation.
  17. Have a private dance party.
  18. Clear out some clutter or make a clean space to feel less chaotic
  19. Make a list of books to read, movies to watch or places you want to visit.
  20. Get yourself organized – make a to do list or figure out how to accomplish a major project.

Taking just a few minutes for yourself at home will make a big impact on your health and well-being, so go ahead, be a little selfish a few times a week. Simple Strategies for Caregivers to Practice Self-Care

Simple Strategies for Caregivers to Practice Self-Care

Simple Strategies for Caregivers to Practice Self-Care Simple Strategies for Caregivers to Practice Self-Care Simple Strategies for Caregivers to Practice Self-Care Simple Strategies for Caregivers to Practice Self-Care Simple Strategies for Caregivers to Practice Self-Care Simple Strategies for Caregivers to Practice Self-Care Simple Strategies for Caregivers to Practice Self-Care

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Caregiving

Advice Tips for New Family Caregivers

by Carol Marak
written by Carol Marak

Taking on the role of a family caregiver can be confusing and riddled with unfamiliar tasks, assignments, and responsibilities. When compiling a checklist, the one thing a family member needs to know is that elder care is more than just health care issues.

There are so many services to consider. Services I always recommend are the legal and financial planning aspect. My motto is always to plan for the worse but always hope for the best.

Subsequently, I recommend contacting the local Area Agency on Aging also known as the Department of Aging. You can find them online by searching the term “local area agency on aging.” The department will guide you to needed resources in your area. It’s the best place to start.

Caregiving Skills and Tips

The other skills and tips to list. These will set you on a better caregiver track.

  • Join learn to accept offers of help now
  • Learn as much as you can about the illness and care needs
  • Taking regular breaks from caregiving will prevent burn out
  • Learn time management skills
  • Get advice from professionals because now you’re expected to make important decisions and likely have limited information

 

Caregiving is physically and emotionally exhausting. Remember to recharge your batteries. Over time, caregiver stress can lead to burnout, a condition marked by irritability, fatigue, problems with sleep, weight gain, feelings of helplessness or hopelessness, and social isolation.

Caregiver burnout is caused by repeated exposure to stress which harms mental and physical health. Chronic stress triggers a release of stress hormones in the body, which can lead to exhaustion, irritability, a weakened immune system, and many other issues.

To counter-stress and help avoid it, you can apply mind-body practices like yoga, tai chi, meditation, and deep relaxation techniques. Few other reminders:

  1. Take care of your health.
  2. Take time for yourself.
  3. Practice patience.
  4. Find work and caregiving balance.
  5. Learn to take the ups and downs lightly.

People are not always prepared when they enter the role of family caregiver. New family caregivers should make time for themselves, look at the technology that is designed specifically for seniors and caregivers, openly communicate with family members, and be prepared for financial planning. To help build these skills, caregivers can visit familycaregivercouncil.com.

While you might find it difficult to keep social appointments with friends and family in the face of caretaking, it is important to maintain social connections to feel less isolated. Realizing that you’re not alone and that others are going through similar experiences nurtures your ability to be self-compassionate. Hospitals and local organizations often offer caregiver support groups for family and caregivers.

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Juggling Caregiving in the Sandwich Generation
Caregiving

Juggling Caregiving in the Sandwich Generation

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

One of the most challenging caregiving issues – outside of the actual caregiving tasks – is finding a way to balance caring for your elderly parent’s needs with your immediate family’s needs, particularly if you have children in the home. Parenting and caregiving are both physically, emotionally and financially draining endeavors with big rewards. Juggling Caregiving in the Sandwich Generation

You’ve heard the term “sandwich generation,” but the full impact of that role is difficult to imagine until you are living it. Your mother needs groceries but your child is home sick from school, or your mother took a fall but your child has an award ceremony. How do you manage the needs of two very different carees without feeling like you’ve failed both? Juggling Caregiving in the Sandwich Generation

Tips to Manage Being Part Of The Sandwich Generation

If you are part of the sandwich generation and are struggling to juggle parenting and caregiving, here are some tips to make your roles more manageable. Juggling Caregiving in the Sandwich Generation

Organization is Key:

Juggling the schedule of an elderly parent and children can be overwhelming. The best way to keep it all together when you are part of the sandwich generation is to set up a system to organize it all. I personally prefer an old fashioned planner, where I can drop all of my appointments on a monthly and weekly calendar and keep notes in the back. You can include contact information for all of your mother’s doctors, as well as the soccer schedule for your daughter.

Of course, the best system is the system that works best for you, so if you prefer a digital calendar, Google has a wonderful calendar that can be shared with other people. If you are coordinating rides for your children or parents, this is a great way to make sure everyone knows where they have to be.

Set up a good record-keeping system to ensure you don’t forget an important piece of information. Is it your mother who is allergic to penicillin, or is it your husband? Set up a medical file either in a binder, in a file cabinet, your phone or on your computer with important health information so you don’t forget those important details. Juggling Caregiving When You Are Part Of The Sandwich Generation

Share the Load:

Just because you live the closest to your elderly parent doesn’t mean you have to do everything yourself. I had a family who ran their mother’s care like a business. The three siblings were all part of the sandwich generation, with their own young children so they divided up the oversight of their mother, who had dementia, in a way that worked for them.

The oldest daughter lived across country, so while she couldn’t handle day-to-day tasks, she handled her mother’s finances and found services for her. She hired the caregiving agency, cleaning service, hairdresser and transportation services for her mother. The son lived an hour away, but worked nearby, so he took his mother to her medical appointments and the youngest daughter, who had young children would handle her mother’s grocery shopping and managing the caregivers.

They were a well-oiled machine who worked together. If you have a sibling who doesn’t live nearby, taking on your parent’s finances is a great way for them to contribute to your parents’ care.
If you are an only child or your siblings aren’t able to provide care, can you outsource services? Perhaps your siblings can help cover the costs to take some of the load off of you. I had a customer who had two sons, but was estranged from one of her sons. While he did not play a role in her care, he did contribute financially to help his sibling, who he was very close to.

Another possible untapped resource is friends or family of your caree. My mom helps her nephew care for his mother, who is my mom’s sister. She has also stayed with a friend who was recovering from surgery when her friend’s husband needed to travel. Don’t only look to siblings, think about both of your extended networks.

Make it a family affair:

Being part of the sandwich generation means caregiving is sometimes a family affair. Do you need to check in on your mom but your spouse isn’t available to stay home with your children? Take them with you! Your parents will love to see them and I’m sure they would love to see their grandparents. You can have them help with the simple tasks such as work around the yard, laundry or even vacuuming. I knew a family whose high school-aged daughter would spend her spring break with her grandmother, cooking lunch for the two of them and going with her on walks. What a wonderful bonding experience for the two of them!

Or, alternatively, bring your parent along on your family activities. When I was a child, my mother used to pick up my grandmother every Saturday and she would join us in whatever activity we had planned, or, we would all go to lunch together. It was wonderful to spend time with my grandmother, and even after she was in a wheelchair, we were still able to enjoy her company over lunch.

Let go of the small things:

This is a really difficult one for me, but not everything has to be perfect. Sure, the clean laundry is still sitting in the basket and the dishes are still in the sink, but the world truly will not end over these small things. Accept that sometimes, good enough is enough and forgive yourself for the imperfections. It is far more important for you to take a 20 minute nap than to have your floors mopped.

As someone with a Type A personality and a chronic illness, I struggle with this every day. I have to remind myself that my health is more important than having all of the mail sorted or the clean laundry put away. As long as the clothes are clean, we’re set!

Live in the moment:

While it is extremely overwhelming to take care of the needs of both an elderly parent and children, try to remember that the busy-ness and exhaustion of this time will not last forever and there will be a time when you will cherish the time you had with both of them. Our parents don’t live forever and our children won’t always be so young. This is really difficult to put into practice, but it if we try to focus on the joys of now and let go of the small things, it can help us accept our present.

Are you part of the sandwich generation? What are some of the ways you handle caring for elderly parents and children? Juggling Caregiving in the Sandwich Generation

Juggling Caregiving in the Sandwich Generation

Juggling Caregiving in the Sandwich Generation Juggling Caregiving in the Sandwich Generation Juggling Caregiving in the Sandwich Generation Juggling Caregiving in the Sandwich Generation Juggling Caregiving in the Sandwich Generation Juggling Caregiving in the Sandwich Generation

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Caregiving After a Stroke
Caregiving

Caregiving After a Stroke

by Kendall VanBlarcom
written by Kendall VanBlarcom

Suffering a stroke is a life threatening experience. Actually, it’s the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. Early intervention can save someone’s life, but there may still be some effects from it such as speech difficulties, drastic decline in cognitive abilities and motor skills. Caregiving After a Stroke

Caring for someone who has suffered a stroke can be incredibly exhausting. The person needs mental, emotion, and physical care, and many times around the clock. These demands can seem like too much for many caregivers who also have a family of their own and a job.

Depression and anxiety are common effects of someone who cares for a stroke patient, especially if he/she does not receive support from others. This is why it is extremely important to seek support for stroke victims. Caregiving After a Stroke

Nursing

An at-home nurse or a home health aide can help take care of the physical care. Medication management, bathing, and other essential daily needs can be taken care of by someone like this, which would take the pressure off of you as a caregiver. You can still provide as much care as you feel you can do, but it’s nice to have someone there as well.

Meal Program

Cooking three meals a day can be overwhelming. Having a meal program can ensure your loved one receives three meals a day that will keep him/her healthy, without causing you to have to take the time and effort to make them. You can still make some meals or bring desserts for your loved one, but you’ll feel much better when the entire responsibility no longer relies on you.

Transportation Caregiving After a Stroke

Taking your loved one to appointments throughout the week can be time consuming and stressful when you have a lot of other things to do. This time can be freed up by setting up transportation for your loved one. Some medical facilities have a transportation program, so contact them to find out if there is one. Some insurance carriers also have a program, so check with your loved one’s insurance.

Emotional Support

All of the support you seek doesn’t have to be for your loved one, you need some, too. Personal consulting could be great for you. When your loved one experiences a stroke, it’s frightening and sad. You could have lost your mom, dad, or other loved one. While you’re thankful for that, you’re still compounded with the thoughts that you still have your loved one, but he/she isn’t the same. On top of that, 25% of stroke victims end up suffering another one within five years. This can be extremely scary for you. Caregiving After a Stroke
Personal consulting with Kendall Van Blarcom is here for you. Understanding what you’re going through, and helping you navigate this twist in life will help you feel a lot better about it all. It can be a major relief to know you truly aren’t alone in this situation. You have help, and that help is just a phone call away. Schedule an introductory session with Kendall Van Blarcom today. He is waiting to help you through this difficult time in your life.

Caregiving After a Stroke

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Caregiving

How Music Therapy is Changing Lives at the End of Life

by Silverado
written by Silverado

What is life without music? Even towards the end of one’s journey, life can still hold meaning and joy, and for some, music helps provide them with just that. Often as powerful as any drug or medication, music’s versatility allows for each patient to enjoy it in their own unique, individualized way.

When a patient initially begins hospice, music therapy is often provided as an optional element of their care. Should they opt for music therapy, a brief discussion is conducted to explain the goals and what to expect, as well as an assessment of the patient’s music history. Gaining insight into the type of connection they have to music helps formulate the optimal plan for the individual. For example, the patient may have favorite songs tied to positive memories, so the therapist might hold sessions where they play those songs and sing along to them.

The benefits of music therapy include, but are not limited to:

  • Pain and anxiety management
  • Pre-bereavement with patients and families
  • Increased quality of life through engagement or reminiscence
  • Decreased loneliness or agitation
  • Cognitive stimulation

 

Whether it’s listening to a song that brings back warm memories or playing an instrument to express emotions they can’t quite put into words, the actual manner in which music is used in the therapy is based upon the patient and their needs and preferences. One unique and very special instance of music therapy for hospice happened recently with Sam Reese, a patient of Silverado Hospice Austin

On the occasion of his 45th anniversary with his wife, Gloria. Sam created an original love song with the help of a Social Worker, Mark Catalano. Sam provided the core themes, which Mark used to compose the lyrics. Mark was also the one to perform and record the song, a beautiful piece memorializing Sam’s undying love for Gloria.

For more information on Silverado Hospice’s music therapy program,click here.

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Caregiving

Handling the Emotional Side of Caregiving

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Most caregivers step up to the plate because they love their caree. Sometimes, the process of becoming a caregiver is slow as a parent begins the aging process and other times it happens quickly due to a fall or illness. One thing that many caregivers don’t anticipate is the many emotions they will experience as a caregiver.

While love enables us to do many hard things, sometimes, love isn’t enough – particularly if you are a caregiver for an extended period. While you love your caree, being a caregiver takes a lot out of you and putting your needs on the backburner for a long time doesn’t come without consequence.

It is important to acknowledge and accept that some of the feelings that come with caregiving can be negative. Many caregivers are embarrassed to express feelings of anger or frustration so they pretend they don’t exist or become angry with themselves for having those feelings.

Feelings of anger, sadness or frustration are just as acceptable as feelings of love and happiness. And while those feelings are common and nothing to be embarrassed about, it is important to find support and explore ways to work through those feelings. The longer you stew on your feelings, the worse they can become.

Handling Challenging Caregiver Emotions

If you are struggling with the emotional side of caregiving, there are things you can do for yourself to work through your emotions.

Free and Low Time Investment for Caregiver Emotional Support

If you are just starting out on your caregiving journey or are at the early stages of caregiver stress, investing a little bit of time in your emotional well-being now can save you from stress or depression later. Here are a few things you can do to support your emotional health.

  • Carve out time for yourself to practice self-care. Take time to care for your needs to reduce frustration and stress. Some self-care tactics you may want to consider include taking time for fitnessor maintaining a healthy diet.
  • Spend time with friends or loved ones other than your caree. If you’ve been so busy that you haven’t had time to see your friends, schedule some time with your friends or other family members. Make plans for a breakfast, lunch or dinner where you can spend some time replenishing your soul.
  • Focus on gratitude. Sometimes, when we’re going through a tough time, we forget to focus on the positives in our life. Start a gratitude journal to remind yourself of the things you have to be thankful for. Even on your worst day, you can be grateful that everyone woke up alive and has a roof over their head.
  • Join a support group. Being surrounded by others in the same boat can help you feel less isolated. It is also helpful to know that your feelings are common and nothing to be ashamed of. If you don’t have time to go to actual meetings (or you can’t find meetings near you), consider reaching out through social media. There are caregiver groups on Facebook and you can participate in Tweet chats with caregivers.
  • Learn a new skill, explore a new hobby or find something that brings you joy. Taking a little time to focus on something just for you can help make you feel like life is more “normal” again. It also helps you prepare for life after caregiving.

Serious Support for Caregiver Emotional Challenge

If you are experiencing significant emotional challenges, you may need to make a bigger time or financial investment. While you may feel that you don’t have time or money to “waste” on your emotional well-being, your emotional health is important. You should treat your emotional health as you treat your (or your caree’s) physical health. If you don’t address it now, you could be looking at more serious emotional challenges that can result in physical illness as well.

Long-term stress and depression can impact your physical health so they are not to be ignored. Sometimes, we need a bit more than a small pick me up to re-set our emotional well-being. If you’re in that boat, here are some things you can do to re-set.

  • Speak with your physician. If you are struggling with depression or anxiety resulting from caregiving, speak with your physician about your situation. He or she may suggest medication, talk therapy or a change to your diet or exercise routine.
  • Speak with therapist. Many times, the hardest part about getting help is admitting you need help, closely followed by actually starting the process. There is no shame in seeing a therapist to discuss your caregiving challenges. A therapist can help you find healthy coping methods so that you are better prepared for the challenges of your role. If you are a caregiver for a difficult person, it is even more important to seek help to adapt to your situation.
  • Hire help. Even if you have a tight budget, it may be necessary to your emotional well-being to outsource tasks or caregiving. Freeing up time can help you incorporate self-care into your routine, which can improve your overall well-being. You can also bring in a paid caregiver to assist with personal care or some activities of daily living that you don’t enjoy or your parent prefer you don’t perform. If you are on a limited budget, there may be resources available to your family.
  • Find a support group. I know I offer this as a solution above, but this is even more important if you are truly struggling. If you don’t know where to look for a support group, ask your loved one’s doctor, check your local hospital or medical center or do a Google search. If your loved one has a particular illness, reach out to their local association’s organization (think American Cancer Association, Diabetes Association, etc.) to find a local group.

 

Investing time in your emotional health is as important as investing in your (or your loved one’s) physical health. On average, caregivers spend between 5 – 10 years in their role. That’s a long time to put off caring for your needs.

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Caregiving

The Care Needs of Older Adults

by Carol Marak
written by Carol Marak

The older segment living without the support of grown children, a spouse or partner continues to rise. Having few to depend on, other than a handful of friends, in many cases, the population has little to no personal support if and when illness strikes.

Local medical and healthcare organizations are more aware of the segment’s needs and address the older adult’s functional declines to better facilitate maintenance of the aging process. And we need more ways to assess the patient’s lifestyle.

For instance, the medical paperwork asks for marital status, age, illnesses, diseases, and symptoms. What it does not ask, “what is the living arrangement, emotional and financial support system, and if the patient has legal documents in order?”

If they did, I believe more individuals would plan before an emergency. Other insights to capture from older patients:

  • Who would you call if an emergency or crisis would occur?
  • Have you fallen in the past six months?
  • Do you have 3 or more chronic illnesses?
  • Do you take 5 or more medications?
  • Have you been hospitalized in the past three months?
  • Identify Cognitive and Functional Abilities
  • Do you need help with bathing, dressing, shopping, and paying bills?
  • Do you feel sad?
  • Are you lonely?
  • Do you drive?
  • Have you had a car accident in the last year?

 

Post hospital care is another problem. In a Facebook group for those aging alone, many members deal with surgeries and planning for post acute care. It’s a surprise to see the intelligent conversations around such difficult issues. You’d think we were patient advocates, not the actual patients!

Too often this segment goes unnoticed especially by providers and live silently in danger of a medical crisis. I hope to build more awareness for the group who is in need of protection, security, connection and support.

And even if you do have loved ones, who’s to say that they’ll be around when if you need them? Our society has changed so much. Today, family members move around the country taking new jobs or even new lives and experiences abroad, leaving an older parent to fend for herself. The U.S. Census (2010) estimates 27 percent of people 65 and over live alone /directory/#key-senior-statistics. Today, that number reaches closer to 30 percent.

Another significant risk is isolation. If a person lives in the suburbs, they have a higher danger and exposed to risks like poor health, restricted mobility, admission to institutional care, low morale, inadequate rehabilitation, and mental illness.

Moving forward, organizations form like the Transition Network and many more who focus on the dire needs of the aging and alone market.

Are you on Facebook? Like my Page @Carebuzz and join the conversation every Tuesday at 3:00 PM CST.

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Caregiving

Hiring the Right Caregiver

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Making the decision to hire a caregiver is stressful. Once you decide your aging parent needs outside help, you need to take the next step to find the right person. Whether you are hiring an independent caregiver or going through an agency, you need to be sure that your hired caregiver is a good fit for your family. How do you know if you’ve hired the right person? Hiring the Right Caregiver

I have worked with many families over the years and have met good and bad caregivers. There are certain traits that were common among good caregivers. Hiring the Right Caregiver

Signs You Found the Right Caregiver

  1. Respectful: A good caregiver treats your aging parent with respect and kindness, regardless of your parent’s cognitive ability. He/she looks your parent in the eye, speaks directly to him/her and addresses him/her directly in a respectful, not condescending tone.
  1. Patient and Flexible: Not everything will always go according to schedule. Our caree may be difficult because they are frustrated with their situation. A good caregiver is patient and flexible and understands the challenges of caring for others and allows their caree to go at their own pace.
  1. Able to Empathize: The ability to empathize is an important, yet challenging skill for many. To be able to understand what a client is going through and be able to ease their frustration or discomfort helps your parent let them in and share concerns with them.
  1. Trustworthy: You are not only entrusting this person with your parent’s care, you are letting them into your parent’s home. Knowing you can trust them with both your parent’s life and their valuables is critical. You don’t want to constantly worry about either.
  1. Passionate: Caregiving is not a high-paying job. Even if you are paying more than $30 an hour for a service, the caregiver is likely making minimum wage, or just slightly above minimum wage. There are many jobs that pay the same rate but are easier to do or don’t require the level of commitment that caregiver requires. Make sure your caregiver is in it because they truly care about helping others and not because they like the idea of relatively unsupervised work (particularly if your parent has cognitive decline or communication challenges).
  1. Forward-Thinking: A good caregiver comes up with ideas or addresses potential problems before they arise. They can see changes in your parent’s demeanor or well-being and bring it up immediately, rather than just going through the motions and waiting for your direction.
  1. Thick-Skinned: Even the sweetest, kindest person may be not-so-nice to their caregiver. A good caregiver understands that it isn’t about them and doesn’t take the behavior personally. They understand that the behaviors may be due to not feeling well or frustration over the situation.
  1. Creative: Sometimes, particularly when working with someone with dementia, a caregiver needs to find unique ways to cajole a client into doing important activities of daily living. Additionally, a creative caregiver will find activities to do with a caree outside of sitting them in front of the TV.
  1. Professional: A good caregiver always remains professional, even when dealing with embarrassing issues. They don’t make your aging parent feel shame about a health condition, physical or mental decline or inability to perform activities of daily living.
  1. Organized: A good caregiver is able to manage many tasks in an organized manner. They can keep track of medications, dosage information and scheduling needs of your parent.
  1. Reliable: A good caregiver arrives on time and ready to work. They don’t frequently call in sick, show up late or leave early.
  1. Physically Strong: Caregiving isn’t just about emotions and professionalism. Many caregiving tasks require physical strength. Caregivers need to be able to safely move their clients, assist with bathing, etc. Your parent may not require these tasks immediately, but if their condition declines, your caregiver will need to be able to handle the changes safely.

There are many other signs of a good caregiver, but these 12 characteristics are a good indicator that your caregiver is the right person for the job. Hiring the Right Caregiver Hiring the Right Caregiver Hiring the Right Caregiver Hiring the Right Caregiver Hiring the Right Caregiver

Hiring the Right Caregiver

 

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