Taking care of an elderly relative is something many people have to do every day. As we age, it isn’t always possible to take care of ourselves, and family members would rather do the job than have a stranger do it. If you think it’ll soon be time for you to take care of an elderly relative, read through this guide to help you:
You Shouldn’t do Everything Alone
As you know and love your elderly relative best, it can be tempting to do everything alone. You know how they like certain things to be done, and you want to be sure they are safe. However, you shouldn’t do everything alone. You need to set boundaries. Doing everything on your own is not healthy, and you will likely end up getting exhausted and burning out. You have lots of options for getting the help you need. You could ask for help from friends and relatives, or look into companies specialising in aged care. You can take it in turns to go in throughout the day, alternate days, or work out a schedule that suits everybody.
Care Homes are an Option
If you’re truly getting exhausted, and your relative needs round the clock care, care homes are an option. Some of them get a bad rep, but they can be a massive help and feel just like home. They are clean and tidy, and the staff will focus on working out what makes your relative tick to ensure they have the best quality of life.
Look Into Carer’s Allowance
Caring for an elderly relative can be a full time job. Make sure you look into carer’s allowance. You’re usually entitled to this if you care for your relative for more than 35 hours per week. This should help you with supplies and different things you need for your relative.
Emotional Support is Important Too
Not only do you need financial support, emotional support is important too. Make sure you’re speaking to somebody you trust about caring for your elderly relative. There are plenty of groups full of people like you who do the same thing too, so speaking to somebody going through the same thing may help. You shouldn’t feel bad for getting stressed or frustrated; it’s totally normal and talking about it can help.
You Need Breaks Too
You might feel guilty taking a break from caring for your relative, but you need to have breaks too. When the time comes, you can either put them in respite care or hire somebody to go in and check on them. If you take the time to research and choose the right people for the job, then there will be nothing to worry about and you can enjoy your break!
Hopefully, this has shed some light on what caring for your elderly relative is like and what you should do to make it as easy on everybody as possible. It isn’t an easy job, but everybody can have quality of life if it’s done right. Try not to stress!
