Family caregivers can feel overwhelmed year round, but when the holidays roll around they may be under additional stress due to an increase in responsibilities. In order to enjoy the season, without burning out, caregivers should consider the following tips.

1.    Set realistic expectations – caregivers can make a list of what they need to accomplish each day; considering care responsibilities, holiday related tasks, social activities, and other obligations. When planning and setting these goals, they need to make time in every day for them, just to relax, unwind and take in the joy of the season.

2.    Ask for help – caregivers can have the senior take part in the holiday activities. Just because they provide care, doesn’t mean they can’t ask for help. Have the senior help with tasks that will not be too physically or mentally challenging for them, and try to choose tasks that they might enjoy; such as decorating, baking, or wrapping gifts. Ask other family members to provide respite care for the senior when responsibilities are getting to be too much.

3.    Hire a professional – caregivers don’t need to do it all alone, if they are finding their combined responsibilities with the holidays are making the season too busy or stressful, they can hire a professional caregiver to assist with the care of a senior. These professionals can be used as much or as little as needed.

4.    Remember seniors tire quickly – while caregivers may find it easy to drag their care recipient along to complete the many holiday tasks they need to accomplish, it’s important to remember that people tire more quickly with age, and therefore seniors should be given the opportunity to rest and relax. During these periods, a caregiver should take the time to focus on themselves.

5.    Recognize your emotions – caregivers may push aside their own emotions and physical signs of stress to get through the holidays, but they should pay attention to these signals and remember to slow down and step back.

6.    Celebrate – it’s easy to get caught up in the busy season, but caregivers also deserve the opportunity to celebrate the holiday. Instead of focusing on everything that needs to be done, caregivers should instead focus on spending time with family and enjoying themselves.

Source: http://homehealthcarebooks.com/healthcareblog/2007/12/19/holiday-help-relieving-caregivers%E2%80%99-stress/

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Let us help you keep mom and dad at home!

Eldercare Challenges

The best way for family caregivers to cope with the stresses and challenges that are brought on by their new responsibilities of providing care to a senior in Phoenix is to be prepared. Individuals who are considering becoming a caregiver can look into resources and seek support even before they take on their responsibilities. They should also understand the specific challenges that they will face, so they can take the necessary steps to prepare themselves.

• Caregivers often need to learn new skills as their responsibilities may include changing dressings or administering and managing medications

• Caregivers should be in decent physical shape, especially when caring for someone with mobility issues to prevent causing injury to themselves or their care recipient. They may need to help the senior in and out of the bathtub, move them in bed and more.

• Caregivers need to understand that it can be emotionally trying to see the health of someone you loved decline in front of your eyes

• Caregivers will face additional stress when balancing care duties with a career and family

Caregivers who need assistance coping with any of the challenges listed above can consult with a Professional CAREGiver to gather resources or assistance, take educational seminars related to caregiving, seek respite care or attend a related support group.

Sources: http://www.pr.com/press-release/117640
               http://www.merckbooks.com/mmha/pdf/sidebar_excerpt.pdf

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Let us help you keep mom and dad at home!

Home Instead Senior Care in Phoenix actively searches for mature and retired workers. More than 60% of our CAREGivers are over the age of 50. Home Instead Senior Care in an active member of AARP National Employer Team.

The Home Instead Senior Care network participates in the AARP Employer Team program because it recognizes mature workers’ valuable qualities. They are reliable, relate well to seniors, may have previously taken care of an aging parent or elderly friend, and they possess a strong work ethic.
 
Home Instead Senior Care is passionately focused on helping older adults live independently in their home, wherever they call home. A few of the many services available services:

• Meal preparation
• Medication reminders
• Respite care
• Shopping and errands
• Light housekeeping
• Companionship

What’s in it for you when being a CAREGiver:

• No experience needed or medical skills necessary
• Flexible scheduling - perfect for retirees
• Training provided
• Supplemental income
• Very rewarding
• A way to meet an interact with others outside your home

APPLY NOW for a rewarding retirement job today in the Greater Phoenix area. Upon completion of an interview process and a full background check, you may have the opportunity to make a difference in the life of someone in our Phoenix community.

BE A CAREGiver!

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Let us help you keep mom and dad at home!

A holiday visit is a time of celebration and festivities, but can also be stressful when adding elder care to the mix. You might be wondering about mom’s physical or mental prowess, if she can still take care of herself.

If you’re visiting mom over the holidays, and have only four days to coordinate her care, here’s a list of things to do during the visit:

• Get the whole family involved. Teenagers and younger children can help with activities such as dusting, vacuuming, or even playing board games during the visit. This leaves ample time for you, the adult, to concentrate on more time-consuming responsibilities as yard work, checking up on bills, grocery shopping, as well as coordinating home care for your aging mom.
• There are services available such as Meals on Wheels, and local home care companies like Home Instead Senior Care that can help your mom with daily tasks.
• Home Instead Senior care Phoenix provides non-medical Companionship, Homemaker and Personal Care services we provide include meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, laundry and ironing, escorting to appointments and events, incidental transportation, and assistance with ambulation, bathing, dressing and personal hygiene.
• If you have siblings, have them ease the burden by also contributing financially for home care, visiting nurses, home delivery, or house cleaning for example.
• You may also want to enlist the help of neighbors. If they are willing, ask if they can keep an eye out on your mom from time to time.

For more information visit these links:
http://www.laterlife.com/retirement-c5/retirement-caring-for-elderly-parents-living-in-their-own-home.htm
http://www.tellinitlikeitis.net/2008/03/taking-care-of-aging-parents-as-a-family.html