Four Keys to Becoming an Effective Caregiver
Jill Ciccarelli Rapps | éBella Magazine | December 2016
Sooner than later, you may find yourself in a position where you need to take care of your spouse, parents, grandparents, or another family member. Becoming a caregiver for your ailing family member is a major commitment that can be emotionally and mentally draining.
You can ease the stress of being a caregiver through preparation and balance. By practicing the four keys to effective caregiving, you empower yourself to handle your caregiver responsibilities in a way that meets both of your needs.
Understand Your Financial Resources
Financial preparedness is a vital aspect of caregiving. The cost of health care is astronomical and continues to rise at a steady rate. By failing to account for health care expenses, you may find yourself in a predicament where you and your loved ones can no longer maintain the lifestyle you all currently enjoy.
When you become the primary caregiver for your loved one, you need to develop a nuanced understanding of your family’s financial resources. Creating a detailed budget is the most effective way to fully evaluate your situation. Review your important financial documents – tax returns, estate planning documents, bank statements, and insurance policies – and record monthly expenses.
You should discuss your budget with a financial advisor. Your advisor can help you consolidate and simplify financial information, recommend updates to your health care strategy and estate plan, and conduct a conversation about how your loved one would like to address health care decisions. By examining the “big picture” with your advisor, you position yourself to make financially prudent health care decisions.
Get Organized
As a caregiver, you will have to juggle a plethora of responsibilities – caring for your loved one’s basic needs, managing their medication and therapy schedules, and handling household chores. Getting organized is the key to proactively addressing your obligations and minimizing stress.
There are two simple ways to combat stress through organization. First, consider what you do best. Focus on these tasks and “give away the rest”. By hiring people to assist you, you can capitalize on your strengths and let the professionals handle tasks that you find to be difficult.
Secondly, create a system for tracking and documenting your loved one’s health-related information. Your organizational system should account for their day-to-day needs (medication, diet and exercise requirements, etc.), appointments, and health care expenses. As a result of keeping orderly records, you can facilitate open communication with medical professionals and your family.
Spend Quality Time Together
The caregiver-patient dynamic can strain your relationship with your family member – especially if your interactions are exclusively related to caregiving. To prevent this friction, make sure to schedule quality time together.
Each day, dedicate a few hours to enjoying each other’s company – watching TV, playing cards, or engaging in a lighthearted conversation. Spending quality time together will foster healthy communication and affection, and will help you to maintain and develop your relationship.
Take Care of Yourself
When you dedicate your time and energy to ensuring that your loved one’s needs are met, you may find it difficult to focus on your personal wellness. Many caregivers feel guilty when they think about themselves instead of paying attention to their ill family member. However, you should not allow guilt or other emotions to prevent you from satisfying your needs.
Your ability to effectively serve as a caregiver is compromised when you don’t take care of yourself. Make sure that you are eating right, exercising, and meeting your wellness needs. Take care of your own financial security and avoid making sacrifices that could negatively impact your future. Feel free to take a break occasionally.
If you feel overwhelmed, do not hesitate to ask for help. Capitalize on the resources that exist in our community – other family members, friends, community health care services or home care professionals. A little assistance can provide you with the stamina you need to continue providing exceptional care.
A financial planner can serve as a valuable asset for caregivers. Your advisor can guide you in developing an organized financial plan, empowering you to become an effective caregiver and achieve balance in your life.
