June 7, 2019 by
“Of course Mom can move in with me!”
Increasingly more family caregivers are making this commendable choice on a daily basis, signifying the beginning of lifestyle changes they cannot yet truly appreciate. And while the rewards of providing care for an older parent are immeasurable, they are not without a variety of dilemmas as well.
It might seem second-nature to manage daily activities for a loved one, yet it’s not quite as intuitive as it seems on first impression. For instance, helping a senior in the shower or bath incorrectly may result in a fall. Poor incontinence care may cause skin damage and infection. Noncompliance with a recommended nutritional plan can cause an array of health complications. Many caregivers depend on helpful online resources to provide guidance and insight into how to provide quality elder care.
It is no wonder that in a newly released report shared by AARP, “Home Alone Revisited,” many family caregivers reported having feelings of stress and anxiety over the possibility of making a mistake in the care they provide. The study spotlights answers from a survey sent to over 2,000 family caregivers, who revealed that although they believed their care was enabling their family members to age in the home instead of moving to an assisted living or nursing home environment, they expressed anxiety over their competency to perform the tasks needed.
Participants in the survey revealed that the most emotionally complicated aspect of caregiving is incontinence care. And, almost ¾ of family caregivers surveyed are consistently carrying out medical tasks related to pain management – tasks that they wished to have received more thorough instruction and guidance on from the medical provider.
Heather Young, dean emerita at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at the University of California, Davis (and co-author of this report) explains that, “Too often [family caregivers] are unprepared and do not get the support they need to assume these important roles.”
Reaching out for assistance and training in new elder care responsibilities is essential for family caregivers. There are a variety options for services in elder care in Syracuse, NY. Families who partner with a knowledgeable in-home care provider, like At Home Independent Living, can help to eliminate the trepidation and uncertainty in managing care at home effectively. Our caregivers are fully trained in the many intricacies of aging care, and will provide members of the family with necessary assistance and education. We also offer safe, reliable respite care services that make it possible for family caregivers to step back from their care duties while knowing their older loved one will be safe and well cared for.
Contact us at (315) 579-4663 for a complimentary in-home consultation to find out more about our services in elder care in Syracuse, NY.