You may be surprised at the amount of work caring for an elderly person can require, which will dictate the level of care you need. Some tasks include toileting, diapering, bathing, brushing and flossing teeth, shaving, fixing hair, soaking feet, applying ointments, moisturizers and makeup, cleaning wax out of ears, trimming nails, dressing, shopping, cooking, serving, feeding, administering medications, housekeeping, laundry, running errands, answering phone calls, keeping medical and dental appointments, providing social interaction, chauffeuring, monitoring medical devices, and providing emotional support!
And with a challenging elder, recognize that you are expecting your caregiver to be a “psychologist” in the trenches, asking them to tolerate behavior from a person who may be uncooperative, manipulative, and maybe even physically combative. And if dementia exists, be sure your caregiver understands how intermittent it can be and how to cope with illogical and irrational behavior. Realize that even mild dementia can cause complaints that are silly and over-the-top, but cause the caregiver a lot of stress, yet the patient may forget about it the next day.
Be sensitive to the stress and needs of your caregiver. Give praise often, overlook minor mistakes, and allow for a learning curve. Make it clear to everyone that your father does not have the authority to fire the caregiver, or you’ll go through all this many times. And after you’ve had a few caregivers who don’t show up or whom you spend all your time helping them with their problems, you will soon realize that when you find a great caregiver—they are worth their weight in GOLD!
Learn more about Jacqueline, an international speaker, radio host, and bestselling author at ElderRage.com
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