Be a Better Caregiver

by Vicki Salemi

It's no surprise our healthy eating and exercise habits are paying off with longer life-spans. However, as we enjoy longer, healthier lives, recurring illnesses and ailments are almost inevitable and caregiving responsibilities ensue. Here are several steps to become a better caregiver as our loved ones age.

Create a Fall-Proof Home

Creating a safe home can start with purchasing night lights, getting rid of throw rugs or taping down loose edges of carpeting. Implementing small changes in your home such as installing grab bars in the bathroom can help prevent falls. "Put non-slip texture strips on the tub or shower floor, put white tape on every stair step so that it is easier to see where a step begins and ends and add a bedside commode because the majority of falls occur when someone gets up at night to use the bathroom," adds Gail Gazelle, M.D., FACP, FAAHPM, assistant clinical professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School.

Control the Temperature

"Avoid heat stroke," says Gazelle. "Keep an air conditioner on or use a fan to increase air circulation. Dress your loved one in light-colored, loose-fitting clothes and avoid taking them outside during the hottest part of the day." In addition, she suggests keeping your loved one well hydrated and watching fluid pills they take; they may cause dehydration in hot weather. As for the cold winter months? Even if they never got cold when they were younger, they're more vulnerable now. "When they go out make sure they wear long underwear, a hat and a couple of layers of warm, dry clothes," cautions Gazelle.

Get CPR Certified

What better way to help your loved one than to know, literally, how to breathe life back into them in the state of an emergency? While 9-1-1 is only a phone call away, properly administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation will help maintain a flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and heart. For instance, the American Red Cross adult training of CPR teaches people how to perform CPR and care for breathing and cardiac emergencies.

Manage Your Own Stress

If you're not managing your own wellness and peace of mind, you won't be able to be an effective caregiver. Period. "Never assume you can do it all yourself. You can not do it all and should not. People need to understand they are a very precious gift to their loved ones and need to take care of themselves as well," explains Christine (Himes) Fordyce, M.D., member of the American Geriatrics Society.

Gather Information

"Ideally you need to know what all the financial aspects are so you know what you have to work with. Every caregiver must know the full financial story of a person they're taking care of," says Fordyce. Keep in mind no one person can truly take care of the entire needs of another person every hour, every day of the week. It's also important to learn the care-recipient's full medical history and to keep these records in a safe place.

Avoid Feeling Guilty

It's important to look at what you've done and how you're helping rather than dwelling on what you're not doing, according to David Stern, chief professional officer at Living Independently, Inc.. "Caregiving can be one of the most gratifying roles you'll ever take on but, you have to get past the negative emotions that come with it and see it for what it is: a wonderful gesture by one human being towards another. You must recognize and accept the limitations of what you are able to do."

Get a Call Life Button

Knowing that your loved one is safe and well when you're not at home is crucial. One way to help you feel reassured is getting a call life button, letting you know that help may be instantly on its way. "Many caregivers are now finding that in-home monitoring technologies are helping them to reduce stress and have greater peace of mind," says Stern. For instance, behavioral telemonitoring systems like QuietCare, a 24-hour monitoring service with small, wireless motion sensors placed throughout the home, allows for increased independence and privacy for the care-recipient and may also detect patterns that may signal potential health problems to help prevent future emergencies.

Contact Professional Organizations

"You don't have to do it all," says Stern. "By getting professional assistance with some of the responsibilities that fall on your shoulders, you can ease a lot of your own anxiety and pressure that tends to build when overworked." There are several community resources that aid in daily care and monitoring of seniors, such as homemaker services, which assist with light housecleaning, laundry and food preparation. Stern also recommends seeking organizations for personal relief. "Support groups exist that provide a forum for caregivers to address problems and learn and help one another."

Ask for Assistance

In essence, it takes a village. Caregivers shouldn't be reluctant to ask for help. Rather, experts recommend embracing it instead. Ask relatives, friends and neighbors in the community to assist with your responsibilities. "Asking family members and friends in the community [for help] is something we often have a difficult time asking for but, they often feel wonderful about being able to participate," Fordyce explains.