Many schools, offices, and businesses have adjusted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making working from home the “new normal” for millions of Americans. Senior centers, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities have also adjusted their policies and availability in many states, leaving numerous older adults without necessary supervision, recreation, and social interaction opportunities. As a result, many family caregivers of older adults have found themselves in the unexpected position of balancing working from home with increased eldercare responsibilities. Navigating these new and sometimes unchartered waters can feel overwhelming. Finding Work-Life Balance During COVID-19Here are nine tips to help family caregivers manage their new senior care roles while working productively from home: 1. Create a workspace Dedicate a space in your home as your “office.” Although having a private room with a door is ideal, placing a desk in a quiet corner of your home is also adequate. Make sure your desk is large enough to hold your laptop and other equipment while allowing you to work comfortably. If you are expected to participate in videoconferencing, consider the lighting and background when selecting your workspace. 2. Establish a routine Create a routine for yourself, and your senior loved one to help both of you know what to expect each day. Establish a predictable schedule for your loved one, including set times for waking up, eating meals, taking medicine, exercising, and other activities to help them feel comforted and secure. A routine will also help you establish set work hours around your loved one’s schedule. 3. Create needed boundaries Older adults who left the workforce before telecommuting was a common practice may not understand the concept of working from home. It’s important to let your older loved one know that there will be times when you cannot be disturbed, such as when you are in your home office or on a phone call. It would be best to let them know when it is okay to interrupt, such as when they need assistance using the toilet or do not feel well. 4. Minimize the potential for interruptions Before settling down to work, make sure your senior loved one is safe, comfortable, and has everything needed. As your work permits, check in to make sure they are doing well. It may also help to let them know when you will be back to check on them again. If your loved one lives in another household, it would be ideal to check in with a phone call before you begin working. During your call, let your loved one know when you will be available again and what emergencies warrant an immediate interruption. 5. Expect the unexpected Times will arise when you need to step away from your work to assist your loved one. Having realistic expectations for yourself and your loved one will help to prevent frustration. 6. Share your situation It is a good idea to inform your boss and co-workers that you are serving as a caregiver for your elderly family member. Many workers are juggling childcare and eldercare responsibilities during the pandemic, so there is a good chance that your boss and co-workers will be understanding. 7. Ask for what you need One of the benefits of telecommuting is increased flexibility. If your senior’s needs conflict with your work hours, consider asking your boss if you can adjust your schedule or makeup missed time later in the day. However, it is crucial to make sure your adjusted work schedule still enables you to complete your assignments and fulfill your job responsibilities. 8. Take time for yourself Balancing work and caregiving responsibilities can feel overwhelming, so it’s essential to take time for yourself. Try to take a walk, watch a movie, read a book, meditate, or do yoga at home to help you relax and recharge. 9. Get help If you feel exhausted, stressed, or overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to ask for home care assistance. Consider asking your family members for support. If that is not an option, hiring a home health aide may be beneficial to properly care for your senior loved one while you manage your work responsibilities. Despite the pandemic, elderly in-home caregivers remain resolute in delivering safe and compassionate personal care that is essential to the health and well-being of older adults. If you are struggling and need assistance, respite care services are also available to provide a break for as long as you want. The home-care professionals at Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can help you find the work-life balance you need while caring for your senior family member. Contact us at 617–795–2727 for a free in-home consultation. About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning home care agency that has been providing high-caliber home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over seventeen years. Countless families have benefited from our in-home senior care, respite care, dementia, and Alzheimer’s care, senior companion support, live-in and 24x7 home care, transitional aid, and private duty care services in Brookline, Newton, Watertown, Natick, Wellesley, Dedham, Needham, Stoughton, Canton, Jamaica Plain, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities. The non-medical assistance provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton home care can make a significant impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton follows all CDC and Massachusetts safety guidelines and precautions. We will require all of our employees to be vaccinated or in the process of receiving vaccination by October 1, 2021 — except those with special religious or health reasons. Those who cannot be vaccinated will have regular testing and will follow rigorous safety protocols. We are committed to the health and safety of our clients and employees.
0 Comments
Helping Senior Loved Ones with Dementia
If you provide care for elderly loved ones with dementia, you most likely have witnessed their battle with memory loss and other cognitive limitations. It can be heart-wrenching to hear them forget family members and friends, fail to recall recent events, or talk about deceased loved ones who they believe are still alive. You may be feeling helpless and discouraged, but there are strategies you can use to reduce stress, circumvent confusion, and maintain a healthy relationship with your aging loved one. 5 Ways to Cope with Dementia and Confusion Dementia can cause your elderly loved ones to say outlandish things or become befuddled when out in public. You may feel embarrassed as they clumsily interact with neighbors, talk to store owners, or even chat with strangers. Dealing with loved ones exhibiting dementia-related behavior, in private and public, can be disturbing. The following tips can help you manage tricky interactions caused by your senior’s illness: Step into their reality Seniors with dementia can find it hard to keep track of reality and memory or imagination. If you pull seniors with dementia into the “real world” by correcting them, you can sometimes cause more confusion, stress, fear, or even anger — which only worsens their symptoms. Experts recommend, whenever possible, that you affirm and join your loved one’s reality. If your senior occasionally speaks as though they live in the past, keep the conversation going without correcting them as long as it is not causing them harm. For example, if your senior thinks it’s Saturday, but it’s Wednesday, there is no need to correct them – just let it go. Use distractions and diversions Experts encourage using situational distractions to help people with dementia stay calm and avoid worsening symptoms. For example, if telling your senior you are taking them for a medical checkup causes distress, you may tell them, instead, that you are going on a trip to the park and will stop for a doctor’s appointment on your way back. You may also choose to distract your senior from topics that cause stress or if you find they are stuck repeating themselves. Changing the subject to the weather or asking them to assist with a simple task can help diffuse the situation. Assistance folding laundry or watering plants can help to shift their focus. Some people may feel guilty about using therapeutic distractions or diversions, and that is perfectly normal. Just remember the goal is to make your loved one feel comfortable and find a balance that works for both of you. Use brief explanations and gentle corrections Sometimes, you may have to correct a confused senior. In situations like this, do so as gently and briefly as possible. Reduce confusion and other negative emotions by phrasing your corrections as suggestions. For example, you could say, “Why don’t we take a walk together?” instead of, “I can’t let you go out alone because you’ll get lost or fall.” Be sure to use simple words and phrases that your loved one will recognize. Physical reminders, such as photographs, can also help gently reorient a senior with dementia when necessary. Respond to feelings, not words Ask yourself what emotion might be behind your loved one’s words. If they are lashing out, perhaps it’s because they are afraid. In this case, you can reassure them that everything is okay and perhaps offer them a hug or hold their hand. It is important to respond calmly at all times. Take care of yourself Although following these tips can help reduce stress for you and your senior, caring for a senior with dementia can still be very demanding. Remember that taking care of yourself is essential to avoid caregiver burnout. If you find yourself hurt by comments your senior has made, try to remind yourself they aren’t doing it on purpose. If you need additional support in caring for your elderly loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or memory loss problems, consider hiring a Visiting Angels caregiver. We have partnered with leading dementia specialists to develop a series of dementia care certification programs. Basic dementia care training is available to all Visiting Angels caregivers, and many home health aides are certified in advanced dementia care protocols. Our Visiting Angels care coordinators are available to discuss your loved one’s needs during a free care consultation. Contact us today! About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning local home care agency providing high-caliber in-home care services to the elderly and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our in-home senior care, respite care, elder companion care, live-in and 24-hour care, dementia and Alzheimer's care, transitional aid, and at-home living assistance services in Stoughton, Brookline, Canton, Dedham, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Watertown, Wellesley, West Roxbury, Westwood, and neighboring communities. The non-medical care provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can make a significant impact on your loved one's happiness and quality of life. Caring for Senior Parents With Different Needs
As loved ones grow older, they begin to need additional care at home. You may feel overwhelmed and sometimes discouraged about providing for them appropriately — especially if they have different care needs. You might look to a live-in senior care facility as an option, but these facilities may separate your parents to address their individual care requirements. For a couple who has spent decades together, this sudden separation can be emotionally distressing and could lead to increased feelings of depression and social isolation. In-Home Senior Care Can Help Both Parents To help your senior parents age in place safely, comfortably—and together--Visiting Angels Newton/Canton offers a range of personalized programs to match each parent’s home care needs, including:
Get the Right Home Care Services for Both Parents Helping your senior parents age together safely and comfortably at home can be challenging, especially when each spouse has different care needs. If you need help finding the right at-home living assistance for each parent without separating them, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton’s senior home care is your best solution. Our care coordinators can provide a free home care consultation to discuss the best services and programs to help your senior parents with their personalized home care needs. If you're interested in more information about how in-home care can help your senior loved ones, contact us at 617-795-2727. Providing Safe, High-Quality Care the Elderly DeserveAt Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, our priority remains its caregivers' health and safety and the elderly clients they serve every day. As an award-winning home care agency in Greater Boston, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton follows and adheres to the latest health and safety guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Despite the challenges associated with COVID-19, in-home caregivers fulfill Visiting Angels’ mission of partnering with families to provide essential at-home living assistance for older adults. Visiting Angels’ in-home caregivers continue to be homecare heroes on the frontlines, taking necessary steps to protect elderly loved ones and themselves and doing whatever it takes to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you have a loved one who could benefit from elderly care services at home, call Visiting Angels Newton/Canton today to schedule a free in-home consultation. A care manager will work with you to choose the best fit for your family member and you. About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton is an award-winning local home care agency providing high-caliber in-home care services to the elderly and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our in-home dementia care, Alzheimer's care, respite care, live-in and 24-hour care, companion care, transitional aid, and in-home care services in Norwood and Boston area neighborhoods, including Brookline, Canton, Dedham, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Stoughton, Upper Back Bay, Watertown, Wellesley, West Roxbury, Westwood, and neighboring communities. |
AuthorVisiting Angels Newton/Canton is an award-winning in-home care agency that provides high quality home care to seniors and disabled adults in Greater Boston, MA. Archives
July 2022
Categories
All
|