You may think that you’re helping your senior just enough, but it really is possible as a caregiver to “overhelp.” When you help too much, that cuts into your senior’s ability to remain as independent as she can be. Here are some ways to correct that balance a bit.
Talk through What Your Senior Really Needs from You
You and your senior need to talk about what she truly needs help doing. When you both understand where she needs and wants help, you can step back in the areas where she doesn’t want or need help. This gives you and your senior both a chance to adjust your expectations and your understandings of what is going on when. Your elderly family member might not feel comfortable telling you to back off with some of your help, but having this discussion allows you to see where that might be necessary.
Keep the Spotlight on What She’s Able to Do
If you’re focusing on what your elderly family member can’t do well or at all anymore, that’s keeping the focus on loss. Pay more attention to what your senior is still able to do. When you shift that focus to the activities that your elderly family member is able to handle on her own, she is going to feel more empowered. It’s going to be less bothersome for her to accept help where she needs it because that’s not as big a deal as her abilities are.
Get Better at Waiting to Help Until Asked
When you and your elderly family member finally determine where she needs help, determine also whether she wants you to just automatically jump into those situations or not. It’s very important to know when you should simply wait for her to acknowledge that she needs help. This is important for her as well as for you.
Remember that You Both Want Her to Be Comfortable and Safe
What’s truly important is that your elderly family member is safe and comfortable. There are a lot of different variables that go into meeting those two goals. When you help your elderly family member, even when you’re helping too much, it’s usually because you’re trying to ensure that she’s safe, comfortable, and happy. It’s vital that you regulate your assistance to meet that goal effectively.
Helping “too much” doesn’t make you a bad caregiver. It just means that you’re expending energy that you could maybe put elsewhere.
If you or an aging loved one needs a Caregiver in Folsom, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
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