Your loved one can exercise and interact with other seniors while you are at work. Transportation can be arranged to and fro the centre, if needed.
Many of us will have caring responsibilities at some point in our lives. The challenges we face can take many forms. Understanding your loved one’s condition, treatment and management, and progession enable you to provide optimal care and prepare for future care needs. Knowing who and where to seek help from can reduce uncertainties and avoid burnout. Recognising your own needs and capabilities as a caregiver help you to find a balance between work, caregiving, and your personal time.
It is important to consider your loved one’s care preference and to include him/her in the planning and decision-making process. Bring the different family members together to discuss the care arrangement and workload.
For instance, one family member could be handling financial affairs and another providing daily care. Knowing their preferences for certain tasks can make assigning roles easier, and reduce caregiving stress. To minimise miscommunication and mismatched expectations in caregiving, there should be constant updates on the matters of your senior. Be more forgiving and understanding of each member’s caregiving role as they may face challenges that you may not know of.