Each day, family caregivers need to make decisions, and some are less difficult than others. For example, choosing what activity your senior loved one takes on may not be as stressful as deciding to approve a surgical procedure for a chronic condition. However, as a family caregiver, you must make difficult choices sometimes. Below are tips you can use when making challenging care decisions for your parent.
1. Understand the Benefits
Difficult decisions could impact your loved one’s quality of life and the relationships among siblings and other family caregivers. Go over all the benefits to determine if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. If you’re unsure of all the benefits, speaking with your loved one’s medical provider should help. The doctor could hold a meeting with you and your siblings to go over the importance of the decision and give you the best advice, making the choice less stressful.
2. Clear Your Mind
In some cases, taking a break and getting some fresh air or participating in a task that isn’t related to caregiving is what you need to do when making difficult decisions. The activities can calm your nerves and clear your mind. Taking time to focus on something fun can lower your stress levels and enhance your mental and emotional wellbeing.
Working out, doing arts and crafts, resting, or walking around the neighborhood can help you get back to normal and allow you to make proper decisions without hesitancy, guilt, or fear. Fresh air, physical movement, creativity, and rest can restore your cognitive function and boost your mental health.
A professional caregiver can be a fantastic source of information and encouragement for both you and your loved one. Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs more extensive home care service, Frederick, MD, Assisting Hands Home Care can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home.
3. Put Your Feelings Aside
What you would do in a difficult situation isn’t the same as what your parent would do, especially if he or she lives with a condition such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, or Parkinson’s. You’re likely in better health, which is why you’re caring for your loved one. Put your feelings aside and do what’s in your parent’s best interests instead of comparing the decision to your own health and preferences.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care Frederick, a leading provider of at-home care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
4. Don’t Procrastinate
If you’re in charge of your loved one’s financial and medical decisions, be decisive. Failing to take control and make a choice could put your loved one’s health in jeopardy. Regardless of how difficult it may be, you have to decide after careful consideration and an appropriate discussion with your siblings and other family members. Procrastinating leaves more time for disagreements instead of getting the assistance your parent needs.
5. Get Approval Early On
One of the best ways to ensure you’re making the right choice for your loved one is to ask what his or her wishes are ahead of time. Having those decisions made early on could prevent a lot of stress and uncertainty for your family because you know what your parent wants. If your loved one makes his or her wishes known while he or she is in good mental and physical health, you should have these preferences legally documented to guide your decisions in the future.
One of the most important decisions you can make is whether to hire a home caregiver for your loved one. If you’re the primary caregiver for a senior family member and are looking for professional elderly home care, Frederick Assisting Hands Home Care should be your top choice. Our dedicated and compassionate caregivers are committed to helping older adults manage their health and enjoy a higher quality of life in the golden years. For reliable in-home care services, contact us at (301) 786-5045.
