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Combat the Isolation of Caregiving
Caregiving

How to Prevent Caregiver Loneliness

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Combat the Isolation of Caregiving

Caregiving can be incredibly isolating. Between managing two households and family obligations, there isn’t much time left for socializing. Unfortunately, social isolation can be just as detrimental to a caregiver’s health, as it is to your caree. Loneliness has been linked to both physical and emotional health problems. Combat the Isolation of Caregiving
Unfortunately, not all caregivers start their caregiving journey in good health. Even caregivers who start out healthy can experience health problems as a result of ignoring your own well-being for an extended period of time. The last thing caregivers need is to struggle from health challenges because they are lonely! Combat the Isolation of Caregiving
Even if you have the ability to get out and see friends, sometimes you just don’t want to. Maybe your friends don’t understand your situation. Maybe you feel so far out of the loop because you are so focused on your caree that you haven’t checked in with friends for a while. It can be a downward cycle. Too tired to see friends, sad that you don’t get to see your friends.

5 Tips for Improving Caregiver Socialization

If you are struggling to get back out in your social scene, here are tips to get out there and reconnect with friends, or make new friends.

  1. Squeeze in Self-Care: It can be hard to spend time with others when you feel like you barely have a second to breathe. If you focus on small bursts of self-care, you may feel less overwhelmed, making you more interested in spending time with others.
  1. Bring Gatherings To You: I know, I know, the house is a mess, there’s no time to clean, I don’t have time or energy to cook, etc. That being said, true friends won’t care about the mess. Trust me, I have never cared and am trying to remind myself of that when my own home is a mess. As for food, you can do a potluck or purchase pre-cooked food, order takeout or gather at a time when food isn’t necessary. Your real friends won’t care about your hosting abilities. They just care about spending time with you.
  1. Reach Out: If you don’t tell people how overwhelmed or lonely you are, they won’t know. We’re all selfish and busy, so sometimes, we don’t see that a friend is struggling unless they reach out. That doesn’t make us bad people, it just means that we all need to speak our needs more often. People who aren’t caring for an adult loved one don’t know how much time or energy goes into caring for another adult. They may just assume you do a few things here and there and are busy with life, not realizing you’re drowning. Tell your friends you are struggling. Good friends will rise, bad friends will sink.
  1. Find Alternatives: If you can’t find a meeting time or place to get together in person, can you do phone calls, text each other regularly or email each other for support? My preference is always in person because I hate talking on the phone, but for some people, in person isn’t always the way to go, especially if your closest friends don’t live near you. My best friend doesn’t live far, but we are both too busy to get together as often as we’d like. Our communication of choice lately is Instant Message/Texting during the week. We can keep up with each other’s lives and support each other even if we can’t get together. Distance doesn’t have to be a deterrent. You’ll just need to get creative.
  1. Find New Friends: Sometimes, in crisis, we realize that we don’t have as many true friends as we thought we had. If you’re feeling a little left out or down about a lack of friends, consider making new friends who know exactly what you’re going through. Check with your local medical provider or senior center to find support groups for caregivers or people with the same ailment as your caree. If getting to a support group is difficult, consider finding online support. There are many Facebook groups for caregivers as well as many people on Twitter who tweet about caregiving and several are actual caregivers themselves. Combat the Isolation of Caregiving

All of these suggestions require a bit of effort on your part, however, once you get out there, you’ll probably be happy you did. There are very few times when I’ve gone out with friends on a day where I wasn’t feeling well or was tired that I’ve actually regretted getting out. Even reaching out via text or email has always made me feel better.

Don’t assume that they are avoiding you or are bad friends. Assume that they are busy and don’t realize how challenging being a caregiver can be. Unfortunately, if you’re the first in your circle of friends to go through this challenge, you don’t have people ahead of you who understand the difficulty. Combat the Isolation of Caregiving

Combat the Isolation of Caregiving

Combat the Isolation of Caregiving

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Helping Seniors Avoid Medication Mistakes
Health Tips

Helping Seniors Avoid Medication Mistakes

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

Medications are a crucial part of life for most seniors, helping them stay healthy and manage chronic conditions. But for all the good they do, medications also represent a risk for older adults. Making mistakes when taking medications can lead to serious — even fatal — consequences. So, it’s important that seniors and family caregivers alike do all that they can to avoid medication mistakes. Helping Seniors Avoid Medication Mistakes
As America’s choice in non-medical home care, the team at Visiting Angels knows how important it is for seniors and their families to avoid medication mistakes. To help, we’ve listed some of the most common medication mistakes made by seniors, plus strategies that seniors and family caregivers can use to prevent these mistakes from occurring.

Common Medication Mistakes by Seniors

Medication mistakes by the elderly may be more common than you think. According to at least one study, conducted by Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the University of Massachusetts Medical School, there is one serious, life-threatening, or fatal prescription drug event each year for every 50 seniors taking medications. Of those serious drug events, over 40% are preventable.
Here are some of the most common ways those mistakes can occur:

  • One of the most common — and most serious — medication mistakes among seniors is overdosing. Overdoses are the number one cause of medication-related fatalities. They can be caused by seniors taking too much medication all at once, or build up over time because seniors take their medications too often.
  • Drug Interaction. Certain medications are dangerous when taken together, when combined with alcohol, or when combined with certain foods such as grapefruit. Seniors may forget about interactions they need to avoid. In other cases, a lack of communication between doctors/pharmacists can mean seniors aren’t aware of dangers.
  • Forgotten Doses. Forgetful seniors may fail to take their medications regularly. If medications are important — such as medications that help regulate healthy blood flow — failure to take them on schedule can be dangerous.
  • Medication Mix-Ups. Some medications look similar or carry similar names to one another, making it possible for seniors to mix up one of their medications for another. This can lead to overdose, missed dosages, or dangerous drug interactions.
  • Misread Labels. Poor eyesight can make it tough for many seniors to properly read their medication labels. As with medication mix-ups, this can easily lead to an overdose or dangerous drug interaction.

Tips for Preventing Medication Mistakes

As a caregiver for a parent or grandparent, you can play a big role in helping your loved one avoid medication errors. Here are some of the ways you can help your loved one stay safe when it comes to taking their medications:

  • Use a Pill Organizer. A pill organizer is one of the best ways to prevent medication mistakes by seniors. Family caregivers can help seniors fill their pill organizers once a week or once a month.
  • Double-Check Labels. Avoid mistakes caused by poor eyesight or reading errors by double-checking your loved one’s medication labels for proper usage.
  • Offer Helpful Reminders. Family caregivers can help seniors take their medications at the right times by offering reminders. Even if you can’t be there in person, you can give your loved one a call for a quick daily chat and medication prompt.
  • Speak with Medical Professionals. If you are able to, speak with your loved one’s doctor and/or pharmacist about any medications your loved one is taking. If you have concerns, make sure to ask detailed questions to get the answers you need.

While our professional caregivers provide only non-medical care assistance and cannot dispense medication to seniors, they can help in a variety of other ways to help keep seniors safe and secure. If you’re considering hiring an in-home caregiver for your loved one, we encourage you to contact your local Visiting Angels agency today.

Helping Seniors Avoid Medication Mistakes

Helping Seniors Avoid Medication Mistakes Helping Seniors Avoid Medication Mistakes Helping Seniors Avoid Medication Mistakes Helping Seniors Avoid Medication Mistakes Helping Seniors Avoid Medication Mistakes

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Dealing with Narcissistic Older Parent
Life Lessons

Dealing with Narcissistic Older Parent

by Kendall VanBlarcom
written by Kendall VanBlarcom

We don’t choose who are parents are, and for some of us, we end up with parents who didn’t exactly show us the love, support, and compassion we deserved growing up. As they grow older, those parents can come back and want to be helped. As much as you may not want to help them, you know you should. So what do you do? Do you just stay quiet and do what you feel you need to do? Or do you turn around and walk the other way? Dealing with Narcissistic Older Parent
Well, the decision is yours to make, and one decision doesn’t mean you can’t make a decision later.
With caregiving, there is a fair amount of guilt and resentment that builds – even for parents who are not narcissistic. It’s a lot of work taking care of another human being who is an adult and often times stuck in his/her ways. There are days you will be exhausted, frustrated, and utterly burned out. Dealing with Narcissistic Older Parent
Let’s not forget there are benefits to caregiving too. These benefits are what you probably are holding onto right now as you are considering taking care of your parents. Dealing with Narcissistic Older Parent
Let’s put it out there and say that you probably want a good relationship with your parent. You haven’t received what you’ve wanted yet, but you’re hoping that someday you will. A part of you thinks that if you do this, you will receive that love, support, and comfort that you never got in the first place.
One of the biggest mistakes people make with caregiving is having expectations. When people have expectations, they usually end up disappointed. Usually…..not always.
This is why sometimes, it’s okay to try the caregiving for a little while. If you find you are not getting what you need to continue providing care without harming yourself and your personal life, you can always make other arrangements.

When You Have No Choice

Some people feel as though they have no choice but to provide caregiving services to their older parent. They may not have money to pay for services, or they feel way too guilty not to do it themselves. What do these people do in this case?

  • Treat it as a job. Just as you are not happy with your job all of the time, do what you need to do, and keep moving. The more emotionally invested you are in it, the worse it will feel. Just do, and try not to feel.
  • Ask for help from friends and family. Try not to take all of the care yourself. It’s too much for one person, and you will get through this time in your life much easier if you have help. Reach out and take the help people offer.
  • Talk to friends and family about how you feel. As much as you try not to feel, you will likely end up feeling some way. It’s best to vent it to get it out of your way. As you become accustomed to caring for your parent, it will be easier for you to let it go on your own.
  • Reach out to a personal consultant. A personal consultant is just like a friend or family member. You can call him on the phone, talk about everything to get it all out and even problem solve your situation. After a session, you’ll feel as though you have a new perspective on life and caregiving. This can help you move forward with positivity.

Contact Kendall Van Blarcom today for a personal consulting session. He can help you with this situation, so you can feel better about what you are dealing with as you decide to or not to care for your older narcissistic parent.

Dealing with Narcissistic Older Parent

 

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Caregiving

Sharing Caregiving With Siblings

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Does your parent suddenly need care and you and your siblings are struggling with how to manage caregiving duties? While it can be difficult to figure out a system that will work for your family, once you create a plan that includes everyone, the burden will be lighter for all involved.

Define the Caregiving Tasks

Let’s face it. There is always going to be one sibling who lives closer or has more free time – or makes more free time – who will take the leadership role. That doesn’t mean that person has to do everything all alone. If you don’t stop to figure out what needs to be done, you’ll always be plugging holes. So, right now, stop and make a list of everything that needs to be done for your parent.

Here are some ideas you may forget about. It doesn’t mean that the person responsible has to actually do the task, but they need to be in charge of hiring a provider and overseeing the tasks.

  • Schedule appointments
  • Research providers and manage application processes
  • Review and pay medical bills
  • Track medical situation
  • Manage housekeeping
  • Manage meals
  • Manage grocery shopping
  • Handle finances
  • Provide transportation or find a transportation provider and oversee the service
  • Manage personal care (including hair appointments and personal care needs)

 

Depending on your parent, there may be much more, including social activities. While maintaining your parent’s social life seems like something that should be relegated to the bottom of the to do list, remember that loneliness in the elderly can cause a host of physical and emotional problems.

Choose Your Caregiver Roles

This is the hard part. Everyone wants to take on the “easy” tasks like booking appointments or managing meal services, but you’ll all need to do some of the dirty work. The good news is, many hands equals less work for all.

Sit down together and realistically discuss what each of you can handle. If someone lives far away, make that person handle the research and financial tasks. While research may not seem time-consuming, trust me, it is. There isn’t a one-stop spot to find all of the services available and the application process for many government programs can be extremely time-consuming with many phone calls and follow-up.

An example of a workable responsibility split is, if there are two siblings who live close to your parents and one who lives farther away, the sibling who is farther away handles finances and research and one of the close siblings handles grocery shopping and meal preparation while the other handles transportation to medical and dental appointments and personal errands. Consider your schedules and other responsibilities and find ways to make it work for everyone.

If you all work full-time and can’t take time away from work, decide how much your parent and each of you can contribute to fund outsourcing services. I have also known families who pay the family member with the lowest income to quit their job and become the caregiver.

Caregiver Communication

If you can, decide on roles from the start so that there isn’t confusion, balls aren’t dropped and no one is stuck scrambling at the last minute. While you are deciding on roles, also decide how you will all communicate caregiving updates.

Will you share a Google drive account so that appointments are all on a master calendar and you can share a contact sheet? Will you exchange information via email, phone or text? Will you have a binder at your parent’s house with all of the details? It doesn’t matter how you share the information, it is just important that you have a consistent system so that anyone can find what they need easily.

You will also need to discuss how you will handle big decisions such as when to hire a caregiver, whether your parent should live alone, medical care, etc. I worked with a family who handled big decisions like a business. They would discuss the pros and cons and vote. Of course, there were three of them so they always had a tie-breaker.

There is no right or wrong way to work together for your parent’s care. Do what works best for your family. And remember, you are family. While it can be difficult working together and old rivalries tend to resurface, remind yourself that you are family and are doing this for your loved one. There will come a time when your services will no longer be needed and your siblings will be the family you have left. This is a season of your lives that you are all living through together.

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Caregiving

Survival Guide for New Caregivers

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Whether you saw it coming or not, caring for an aging parent can be a challenge. Your parent may have been on a gradual decline, giving you the opportunity to plan ahead and implement care strategies a little bit at a time; or your parent may have taken a fall and broken a hip, resulting in the need for immediate care.

Whatever the case, jumping into the role of caregiver can be overwhelming. What steps do you need to take to ensure your parent is properly cared for? How can you fit it into your already full life? Where can you turn for help?

Assess the Situation

Before you jump in head first, step back and decide what your parent needs. If your parent has his/her cognitive functioning intact, consult them to decide what type of care they would prefer and what is needed.

Some questions to consider:

  • Do they need short term or long term assistance? Even if this is a new injury, bear in mind that as we age, it takes longer to heal. Your parent may need help getting to physical therapy appointments, performing certain activities of daily living, etc. for more than a few weeks. I had a client who had a broken hip, that resulted in surgery and three months of recovery. Even after the three month recovery time, a year later, she still lamented about her challenges getting up and down stairs.
  • What type of assistance do they need? Do they need someone to assist with activities of daily living? Do they need food delivered? Do they need transportation to medical appointments or physical therapy?
  • Is their home suitable for them to age in place or do they need to make changes, or explore other housing options?
  • What is your budget? Are there funds available to tap into? If not, are there other family members who can assist and/or help cover costs?

Make a Plan

Once you’ve assessed the situation, you can develop a plan of action. Whether you need long- or short-term assistance, you will need to decide who will do what activities and how frequently. If you are working with siblings or other family members, you should consider all sitting down together to develop a schedule and plan. Just in case, you may want to refer to my sibling rivalry post before having your family meeting.

Here are some things you can do to make caregiving run smoother:

  • Create a shared calendar (Google offers free calendars that you can share) to post medical appointments, physical therapy appointments and any other transportation needs that will require a volunteer or service.
  • Decide who will handle researching services and benefits available to your parent and agree on a timeline.
  • Determine which tasks can be handled by family members and which tasks to outsource and set up a schedule. If you lay out all of the possibilities ahead of time and address expectations, there is less room for confusion and frustration later.
  • Decide how long you will need outside support and how much you will use. If you will be using outside support indefinitely, decide how you will ensure your parent is receiving proper care.
  • If your parent will ultimately need to move into an assisted living facility, work together to decide on timing and how to make the transition easier for your parent.

Common Caregiving Tasks to Discuss

  • Who is purchasing groceries and how frequently?
  • How will meals be handled? Will you use a service or will someone provide meals for your parent?
  • Who is hiring and overseeing hired caregivers? What are the expectations and how frequently will you use outside help? Who will pay?
  • Who is handling bill paying? How frequently will bills be paid and how will your parent can access funds for incidentals?
  • Who will handle cleaning/maintaining your parent’s home?
  • Who will handle transportation needs (either providing transportation or securing transportation)?
  • If your parent needs personal care (bathing, dressing, feeding), who will handle those tasks?

 

You will have many other tasks to consider, this is just a general list to get the ball rolling. If you are in need of long-term assistance, check out my resources page for links to benefits for seniors. Bear in mind that many services take several weeks to start, so the earlier you get the application submitted, the better.

 

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Caregiving

5 Technological Advancements for People with Dementia

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Dementia is a frightening condition that no one can wish to have. The primary symptom is declining memory loss and the overall inability to perform simple problem-solving tasks. It also impacts a person’s ability to think critically and at the same time, affect the language patterns. It is a common occurrence among the elderly in society. Still, the condition is slowly creeping to younger people due to different causes, chief among them being mental illness issues.

Though advancements in science and technology haven’t come up with a cure, several useful innovations will offer some form of reprieve to family members and caregivers as well. These innovations help in reducing anxiety and stress, while at the same time enable in the mobility of the affected person.

That said, here is a list of the top 5 technological innovations for people with dementia.

  • Special Digital clocks

The major problem that faces patients with dementia is time-lapse. They may not differentiate between night and day. These unique clocks help them interpret the time of day and helps them keep to set routine and schedule. It may not be much, but any assistance on dementia patients is a huge deal and helps them lead normal lives. You might also consider using Reminder Rosie, a clock that allows a loved one to record a message to play at set times. This is helpful for medication reminders and other important prompts.

  • GPS location and tracking devices

It is a common occurrence for a person who has dementia to forget the way back home. It might seem simple to others, but for these patients, it is a lifesaver. Concerned family members would previously not let a relative with the condition go for groceries without company. Thanks to this innovation, caregivers and family members can track their movement and act in time if they notice wandering patterns.

These devices can be worn on the arm like a bracelet ensuring that the patient’s movement can be monitored at all times. If your loved one is not compliant with bracelets, GPS monitors can also can be worn in a shoe like these GPS SmartSoles.

  • Home care robots

Robots have come in handy for dementia patients. They act as special reminders for tasks that need to be done. Furthermore, they can be great assistants that help reduce the workload around the house. They can clean the home and keep it clean for the entire day. Being robots, they follow set scheduled fed into their computer programs, meaning no medication or food will be skipped.

Moreover, they automatically themselves and therefore you need not worry even when away.

  • CCTV in the home

CCTV is not for nannies only. Home cameras can now be fitted and monitored even from a smartphone. Therefore, you can check on the patient even when away attending to other assignments. You can remind them about taking medication or food through a phone call because you will have seen that they didn’t.

  • Supervision of electrical appliances

If the patient is left home alone and has to cook for him/herself, then caregivers and family members need not worry. Electrical appliances can now be supervised remotely and alert those closest when anything goes wrong. If the microwave is one for more than half an hour, the caregiver will know immediately.

Many other innovations are being rolled out continuously in the market that helps dementia patients have normal lives. But these five are essential and accessible by all. They are not so expensive and will go a long way in making easing the burden not only on the patient but family members as well.

Author Bio:

Holly Clark is a freelance health writer and a career carer. Her writing mainly focuses on elder care and well-being. Right now, she is currently working as a consultant for SureSafe.

 

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Caregiving

Normal Caregiver Emotions

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Guess what? You’re not alone. Anyone who tells you they are happy every minute of every day is probably lying. Not all caregiving tasks are fun and not all moments are pleasant.

Negative Caregiver Emotions

You may feel guilty feeling these emotions, or not want to express them out loud, but these emotions are totally normal and it is highly likely that every caregiver has felt them at one time or another.

Resentment:

Whether you resent the situation (why did my spouse have to get in an accident) or you resent the cause (if my mom didn’t smoke, she wouldn’t have been this sick) or the change to your lifestyle (I used to have time to go out with my friends or travel), feelings of resentment are common.

Accepting these feelings and understanding that they are normal is the first step to feeling better. Once you’ve accepted these feelings, find a way to re-frame your mindset. Instead of thinking, why did my spouse have to get into an accident, think, I’m so glad I still have my spouse in my life. Instead of thinking, why did mom have to smoke and cause these health problems, think, I am going to take better care of myself so that my later years aren’t filled with doctor appointments and illness. Instead of thinking, I used to have a full life and now I am just a caregiver, think of ways to bring joy back into your life. It may not be in big ways like in the past, but find daily ways to feel happy.

Anger:

It is perfectly normal to feel anger when you are dealing with tasks that you don’t want to do or your caree is less than grateful for what you do. You may also feel anger if you are dealing with a financial impact of caregiving. It can be expensive to be a caregiver. Loss of work, out of pocket expenses that are not covered by insurance and paying for conveniences because you are too busy to do things yourself can all add up.

If you feel anger over doing tasks that are difficult or that you don’t enjoy, consider hiring a caregiver to assist with those tasks. Perhaps you bring someone in just for personal care or certain cleaning tasks. Practice shortcuts and cost-cutting tips to help with the fact that you’re bleeding money. And finally, consider keeping a gratitude journal to focus on the things you are thankful for or do some of these three minute stress busters to help blow off steam.

Anxiety:

Anxiety can be a normal emotion for anyone in these crazy busy times. We are expected to be accessible all the time, thanks to smart phones, and life is moving at a faster pace than ever before. Add in the stress of caregiving and the fear of your loved one falling more ill or watching their health decline and it’s no wonder your anxiety levels are at an all-time high.

Try coping techniques to reduce your anxiety. Meditate, go for a walk, take a hot shower or do whatever helps you relax. You can also join a caregiver support group either in person or online to speak to others in the same boat. If your anxiety is unusually high and self-care is not working, see your doctor. You may need to re-set your body through medication. There is no shame in reaching out for help.

Boredom or Impatience:

It is not strange to feel bored with your new role. You probably had a full-time job where you interacted with people on a daily basis and a full social life. Suddenly, you’re spending the majority of your time with someone who needs your help with menial tasks and not feeling challenged. You may also get impatient with how slowly your loved one moves or their inability to do simple tasks. These are normal feelings.

To cope with the boredom or impatience, find ways to challenge yourself or engage with others. If you can’t get away for several hours, consider online courses or support groups. You don’t need to leave the house to interact with others.

Loneliness:

Caregiving can be isolating. There aren’t enough hours in the day to foster friendships, so you tend to spend all of your time with your caree, who may not be the best company. If you had a full social life in the past, it can be even more frustrating to be left out of your social circle.

If possible, enlist other family members, friends or neighbors to provide you with time away. Whether you get a lunch away or a night in a hotel, just getting out of the house, among others will help with loneliness. You can also reach out to your friends via phone, email or text. Sometimes, they stop reaching out because they don’t know if it’s a good time to chat or what you need. Take the first step. If you are having trouble relating to people from your former life, join a support group either on- or off-line.

While these may feel like terrible emotions to admit to when caring for someone you love, they are totally normal and you should not feel embarrassed that you feel them. Find ways to re-frame them and pull yourself out of the funk. If you feel that you can’t do it on your own, reach out to a counselor for help. You don’t have to live an unhappy life while you are caring for others.

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Caregiving

How to find Caregiving Support for Low Income Loved Ones

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Caregiving isn’t just emotionally and physically demanding. It can get expensive. On average, caregivers spend between $5,000 and $20,000 per year on caregiving expenses.

Between co-pays for medication or medical appointments to caregiving support or devices and equipment, the expenses add up quickly. This isn’t even including general housing and nutritional needs.

If you are lucky, your parent planned ahead or was employed by a company that offered a pension. If not, where do you turn to get assistance with the overwhelming costs?

National Resources For Low Income Seniors

While it may take time to get set up in the federal systems, it is well worth your time to get your parents into the system for support. Caregiving is a marathon, not a race. Most caregivers are in their role for 5 years. Taking the time to apply for programs that provide financial assistance will help you in the long run.

National Council on Aging Benefits Check Up: Visit this site to find out what federal programs are available to your aging parents.

Medicare: Visit this site to find out insurance benefits and programs available to your aging parents.

Department of Health and Social Services: Your local branch will have information on local services available to your aging parents.

Administration on Aging: Your local branch can help you access services in your community.

Meals on Wheels of America: this organization will provide your parents with one meal per day. There is a fee associated with this service, however, they have options for low income seniors.

Local Resources for Low Income Seniors

Once you’ve figured out what federal options are available to you, it’s time to turn to your local community. Every community is different, so there may be more options in your community.

Chamber of Commerce or Senior Center: Reach out to these organizations in your city or county for a list of low cost or volunteer services in your community. For example, I knew of a senior center that did free grocery shopping for the elderly in their community. The client had to pay for the groceries, but not for the shopping fee. My local senior center has a program where volunteers call home-bound elderly people to check in on them. Every community is different. Find out what is available in your community. Just taking one or two items off your list will give you a few hours back every week.

Local Churches: If your parent, or you, are a member of a church, reach out to the spiritual leader with your needs. There may be a group or person within the church who can assist with some of the challenges of caregiving. Even getting help with meal delivery or transportation could impact your budget. That’s one less meal you are preparing or one less ride you are paying for or taking time off work to do.

Local Youth Programs: If there are local service-oriented youth programs in your community, reach out to find out if they provide senior services. Perhaps they can assist with yardwork or errands. You don’t know if you don’t ask.

Your Parent’s Doctor: Reach out to your parent’s doctor’s office if you are struggling with covering the co-pay or prescription costs. There may be ways they can assist. Some pharmaceutical companies offer patient assistance. Your parent may also be able to take a generic prescription to lower the cost.

As someone who lives with a chronic condition, I know how expensive it can be to deal with healthcare expenses. Finding financial relief is time-consuming and you will feel like you are banging your head against the wall when you repeat the same information to the 45th person, but the long-term cost savings will be worthwhile. Additionally, bringing in support for certain tasks can free up a few hours here and there in your own schedule, giving you the opportunity to practice self-care, or at least take better care of yourself.

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How to Help a Senior with Parkinson’s
Caregiving

How to Help a Senior with Parkinson’s

by Kendall VanBlarcom
written by Kendall VanBlarcom

If you are taking care of a loved one with Parkinson’s, you are not alone. Here are a few suggestions on how to help a senior with Parkinson’s.

Educate Yourself

When there is a new diagnosis, often families don’t know where to turn. Getting all the information you can may help. Particularly if you are feeling a lack of control. Talk to a health care professional about exercise options, learn about various medications and treatments, and learn about the progression of Parkinson’s, so you will be aware of what changes may occur over time. In addition, reach out to support groups in your area, often there are other individuals experiencing what you are experiencing nearby. They can help lead you to resources.

Take Care of Yourself

Your day-to-day life will change when you are living with someone with Parkinson’s. It’s important you take care of yourself so you can provide the best support for the person you love. Talking through your problems with a counselor can be very healing. Being kind to yourself, and having your own thoughts and feelings heard, is essential to a healthy home environment.

Enjoy Time Together

Parkinson’s affects motor skills and you may not be able to have the lifestyle with your loved one that you’ve had in the past. Do your best to accept and understand that an individual with Parkinson’s is living with a disease that can change daily. There may be days when a walk around the neighborhood is possible, but there will likely be other days when you’ll need to help them with basic tasks, such as getting dressed. So, when an opportunity to do something you enjoy together is possible and available, enjoy it.

Adapt Your Home

It is essential to have your home be a safe place, and to help a senior with Parkinson’s you will likely need to make some adjustments. Open pathways are important and as physical skills deteriorate, walkers or wheelchairs may be needed. Other things to keep in mind is that floor rugs can be tripping hazards along with standing lamps. Also, it is helpful to remove statues and side tables that could inhibit movement. Making adjustments to your home before they are absolutely needed provides more safety and allows everyone to acclimate to the new layout over a period of time.

When to Explore Assisted Living

In the later stages of Parkinson’s, a family might opt for the transition to an assisted living facility. There are many factors that go into a decision to move. When possible, families should try to make a decision that everyone can support. Often, when a facility is found that is trusted and viable financially, it can be a healthy option. It is estimated over half of individuals who are diagnosed with Parkinson’s will, at some point, develop dementia in connection with the disease. For some, it is possible to have home care, perhaps with a professional who can come to help out, but for others, assisted living is the best solution.

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