Tips For Being A Great Caregiver In Houston
Chances are you know at least one elderly person who suffers from a condition or illness that makes them dependent. In fact, research will show that half of the adults in America will have struggle with a condition where they require some kind of support. This support can come from a caregiver, a family member, or even a friend. If the support is expected from you, here are some suggestions on how to be a great caregiver.
Always Try To Be Positive
Having to undergo different treatments is not going to be easy for the person you’ll be caring for. In other words, expect them to be emotional and depressed more often than not. But you can help make the treatment easier by being the positive energy in the room.
Keep It Basic
Treatment and healing usually require time and patience, which is why you should motivate the person in your care to always take small steps. For instance, encourage just a few sips of water after a chemotherapy session, seeing as fluids are important. And when it’s a mobility problem, like if the person is suffering from a stroke, don’t push too hard in terms of helping them walk again. Be patient and be the caregiver that takes it one safe step at a time.
Positive Reinforcement
Always remind the person in your care that they are able to still do things for themselves. It’s important that they don’t feel more helpless than they already do. So, work on those positive reinforcements to keep them active and healthy.
Play On Past Success
If your patient does not feel like working with you today, remind them of how well they did yesterday. For example, if they refuse to eat or drink anything, refresh their memory about the day before. Let them know it’s a matter of trying before accepting failure.
Do Your Best To Be Compassionate
For the lucky ones who don’t need someone else to get through daily routines, it’s easy to take this liberty for granted. And while nobody expects you to undergo the same experience, there is an expectation regarding compassion. If you cannot be compassionate as a caregiver, it’s probably not the job for you. You see, caregivers are naturally optimistic and compassionate individuals.
Take The Initiative
Instead of a useless gesture like telling the person to call you if they need anything, take the initiative. For the most part, when people are seriously ill or sick, they don’t usually ask for help.
Some Social Support
Even if you are not the person that will do the official caretaking, you can show some social support by making regular calls. Of course, you want to respect their privacy, but a quick call to remind them to stay positive can go a long way. Or just a thoughtful card can be very effective. This way, you are not intruding or invading in any way. Plus, you are building their confidence to get through the treatment and the illness.
Share From Personal Experience
If you went through a difficult time in your life, and you stumbled onto something that helped you to cope, why not make the suggestion? As a caring coach, the ability to empathize is important. It also means you know when to simply listen and learn something about yourself.
Undertake Regular Visits
When it’s a serious case and you don’t want to show up during treatment, get familiar with the illness and the person’s schedule. Then, you can pencil in quality time on a regular basis, without preventing them from getting the treatment they need.
Remember To Take Care Of Yourself Too
A caring coach takes on big responsibilities. But this also means you need to pay attention to your own level of health. Because if you can’t be positive, you can’t help someone get in a better mood, can you? And what happens if you get sick?
In order to be a good caregiver, you should prioritize your health into your daily routine. Make sure you are eating right, getting enough sleep, and taking some time to decompress from your own stress.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call us today or contact Assisting Hands Houston. For more tips and tricks visit our blog.
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