Planning and arranging elder care takes time. When you’ve noticed your dad is forgetting to take medications and wearing the same clothes for days at a time, he may need help. A lack of hygiene, a messy, unorganized home, and spoiled groceries that haven’t been discarded are other signs he could use help.
Build a List of Difficult Tasks
Work with your dad to build a list of the tasks he dislikes or can’t do on his own. Consider some of the common ones like driving his car, cooking meals, or paying bills. Add the ones that are less likely to cross your mind like difficulty cutting toenails because he can’t bend over or challenges faced with tying his shoes.
What about the things that may embarrass him? If he has a hard time getting in and out of the shower, he may not want to admit it. He may not want to tell you that he can’t work the new digital washing machine you bought, so he hasn’t been doing his laundry. All of these tasks are ones a caregiver could help him with.
Discuss Plans Together
Your dad needs to be part of elder care planning. If you’re not allowing him to be part of your family discussions, you’re not being fair. Only in rare situations would your dad be unable to communicate his thoughts in some manner. If he has Alzheimer’s and is non-communicative, you can still look at him for shrugs and eye rolls to know if he’s okay with something you say.
He’s the one spending time with caregivers, so make sure his voice is heard. Things to consider include whether he’d want his adult children helping him with showers and toileting. Would he want his grandchildren involved at all?
If he is okay with family helping out, does he have limitations on how often or what he is comfortable having them do? Would he want his son managing his finances or would he prefer a professional bookkeeper?
Tips for Making Arrangements
Call an elder care agency to discuss your dad’s needs. Find out what caregivers cost and relay that to your father. If possible, have the elder care agency assess your dad’s home for any safety factors you should be considering and services you may not realize he could have.
Once you’ve gone over his needs and come up with a schedule and care plan, caregivers will come on the assigned days. One phone call is all it takes to get started.
The staff at Home Care Matters is available to talk with you and your family about all of your needs. Home Care Matters is a home care agency providing quality and affordable Elderly Care in Braselton, GA, and surrounding areas. Call (770) 965.4004 for more information.
Valerie has the unique experience with home care as she has experienced it from both ends of the spectrum, as a caregiver and as needing care herself as a cancer survivor. Valerie says, “Taking care of someone you love is a physically, mentally and demanding labor of love.Taking care of my mom was the hardest thing I have ever done. It has given me an insight and perspective not many people understand unless you are doing it or have done it.I loved taking care of my mom.I love helping others take care of their love ones too.And now that I’ve been sick, it’s given me a whole new level of empathy and understanding for those who are sick and need help.”
Valerie’s schedule varies daily, but she loves visiting with our clients, families, caregivers, our network partners and being in the office.Says Valerie, “Every day is different, but I wake up excited about what we do, inspired by our team, clients and caregivers.I strive to be a resource to the community.I love my team and I love what we do every day. I like to think my mom would be proud.”
You can reach Valerie by email (Valerie@homecarematters.com) or in our office (770.965.4004).
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