For many family caregivers, providing care is often a full-time job. They often have too many responsibilities and too little time, and they can use some extra help. Here are a few simple ways you can support a caregiver friend.
Be Specific When Offering Assistance
If you want to help your caregiver friend, don’t offer generic assistance. When you say, “Let me know if you need any help,” your friend may appreciate the thought, but he or she probably won’t accept your offer. Instead, present a specific offer of help. Ask if your friend needs anything the next time you go to the grocery store, or ask whether he or she would like you to help out with laundry. Your friend may also appreciate offers of home-cooked meals or lawn care. You can even offer to watch your friend’s senior loved one for a few hours so your friend can get some extra time off.
For some families, caring for a senior loved one can be overwhelming at times. Luckily, they can rely on professional respite care. Tucson, AZ, Home Care Assistance is a trusted name in respite and hourly care. Our caregivers are available around the clock to assist seniors with bathing, transportation, medication reminders, exercise, and much more, allowing families the time they need to focus on other important responsibilities or just take a break.
Know the Signs of Caregiver Burnout
Do a little research into caregiver burnout, which is a state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion that occurs when caregivers are under too much stress. Signs of burnout include depression, negative self-talk, anxiety, irritability, and isolation. If you suspect your friend has taken on too many responsibilities, gently remind him or her that you’re only a phone call away. Whether your friend needs a shoulder to cry on or someone to run to the pharmacy, you should be ready to help.
Make the First Move
When your friend is a caregiver, the traditional friendship rules may not apply. If your friend doesn’t initiate contact or invite you over for coffee, it’s probably because he or she is caring for an aging loved one. Don’t be offended if you’re always the first one to reach out. Use compassion and persistence to maintain your friendship, and try to accommodate your friend’s lifestyle. In the event your friend can’t go out to the movies, head to his or her place for a Netflix night.
Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Tucson Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
Have Some Face-to-Face Friendship Time
For busy caregivers, friendships are often carried out via phone calls, emails, and texts. While it’s great to maintain contact in any way possible, try to schedule some in-person interaction with your friend. It’s easier for caregivers to pretend they’re doing fine over text and email. When you spend time with your friend in person, you might get him or her to open up more. Even if your friend isn’t in the mood to vent, a face-to-face chat may brighten his or her day.
Don’t Offer Unsolicited Advice
When someone requires help, many people respond by offering solutions and advice. Try to overcome the impulse to solve the issue. Instead, simply listen to your friend. If your friend wants your advice, he or she will ask for it.
If your friend is having difficulty caring for an elderly parent, suggest hiring a professional caregiver. Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated elderly care, Tucson, AZ, families can turn to Home Care Assistance. Our respite and live-in caregivers are expertly trained to assist seniors with a wide array of important tasks, including cooking, bathing, light housekeeping, and exercise. To learn about our high-quality in-home care plans, give us a call at (520) 276-6555 today.