Senior Care: Sure, your mom is the one with Alzheimer’s disease, and she’s the one suffering.
Don’t diminish your own feelings. They’re valid, and you’re hurting, too. When you’re the primary family caregiver for a parent with Alzheimer’s, it’s normal to push aside your own feelings. You have to focus on your mom. You need to take care of yourself first in order to give good senior care to your mom.
When you take care of yourself, you have the energy to take care of your mom. Self-care has to come first, and here’s how you make sure you’re doing your best.
Take Days Off
Schedule days off regularly. On those days off, let someone else help your mom with daily activities. While she’s in good hands, go out and see your friends. Stay in bed until you’ve had enough sleep. Take care of the different errands that you’ve been putting off.
If you have hobbies or interests you’ve been putting off, now is the time. Get out your camera and head to a nature trail to photograph the plants and animals. Hike up the mountain to get photos of the valley below. Go to the beach and soak up the sun for the day. Whatever appeals to you, make sure you do it.
Talk to Your Siblings
Gather your brothers and sisters for a family meeting. If you share care tasks, it’s easier on everyone. All of you should be leaning on each other for support.
Target your specific skills to the help you give. You love cooking, so you are the best choice for preparing your mom’s meals and snacks. Your brother loves organizing files, so he is a good choice for bill-paying each month. Your sister likes driving around, so she could take your mom shopping and to appointments.
Plan for Everything
Your mom cannot be left alone for long. She may decide she needs to go “home” and start to wander. Eventually, 24/7 care is essential. Even if your mom goes to bed on time, you won’t necessarily get to sleep through the night. It’s not unusual to have someone with Alzheimer’s only sleeping for a few hours. If she wanders, someone has to be alert.
Hire Senior Care Aide
On days you all have things you have to do, don’t struggle to decide who will help your mom. Hire senior care aides to help your mom out while you’re taking care of your job, errands, or social activities.
Respite care is one of the most essential senior care services when a parent has Alzheimer’s disease. You get to take a break without leaving your mom alone. Call an agency to make arrangements.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Home Health Care in Rochester, MI, please contact the caring staff at New Century Home Health Care today. (248) 398-9600
Home Health Care is tailored to assist the individual and family to achieve the optimal level of health, prevent hospitalization and provide care and support for the family. Services are delivered on an intermittent basis according to a plan of treatment established by the patient/family, patient’s physician and the home health professionals.
Our services range from skilled nursing care and rehabilitation, to personal care and living assistance services. Our goal is to provide a variety of professional skilled and non-skilled services that will enable our clients to receive the care they need right in their homes.
We would like to take the opportunity to show you our company’s commitment to not just meet, but also exceed home health care delivery standards. New Century Home Health Care, Inc.’s mission is to build a positive, trusting relationship with you.
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