Today’s blog post is a guest blog by Karen Owen-Lee, a gerontologist and expert in senior care.
In 2013, up to 40 million Americans adults attended for a senior as reported by the Pew Research Center. Currently 19 million full-time workers are thrust into the role (Gallup Poll/14870). The pressure can be staggering when trying to balance the thousands of tasks required.
An adult could be part of the “Sandwich Generation” where he or she is not only dealing with an aging parent, but along with children and a husband or wife. The grown up could be faced with guilt, shame and fatigue. If there are no siblings or other family members to pitch in, the weight is on one person’s shoulders.
However, there are community resources to rely on. For instance, adult day care where the senior could go to spend the day at a program with other participants they age. The elders enjoy cooking class, movies, woodworking, and computer instruction. The adult could drop off their mother or father on the way to work and pick up after work to reduce the fear of them being home without supervision.
Assisted living communities often offer respite care or vacation care. If the caregiver and family plan a much deserved vacation or stay home for fun local adventures, the loved one could stay in the luxury living senior retirement community.
Pampering the caregiver is just as important. Studies have shown that the caregiver is the first one to get ill due to the stress and frustration. The person usually requires some alone time to journal, read a book, exercise, talk with friends or take a nap. Caregiving support groups are always available to talk with others who are in similar situations.
These are some very basic solutions to balancing the duties of caregiving. Also, home care aides could be hired to bathe, dress, light house cleaning, meals and socialize with the loved one. Therapy could be utilized for balance and strengthening, usually paid for by Medicare if ordered by the physician. Contacting the local Area Agency on Aging may help to locate free and private pay services.
The anxiety of caregiving can be eased depending on one’s attitude. This is a time to love and care for the person who changed your diapers along with teaching you to play baseball or to cook. Have fun by watching a movie, go for a walk, and take a drive around the neighborhood.
