Not Everyone is a Caregiver and That’s Okay

Even with its challenges, many family caregivers report feeling gratified by choosing to care for someone they love. It can work out in your favor if you have the means and energy to be a constant support. However, the daily responsibility of providing for and protecting a senior parent or relative isn’t a job for everyone. Some people just aren’t wired that way. And that’s okay.

Caregiving requires certain personality types, physical strength, mental stamina, and being on-call essentially all the time. Depending on your career, family situation, or health conditions, managing an elder’s routine can be impractical at best and impossible at worst. This isn’t to say that families shouldn’t try it, but to give permission to try something else if caregiving doesn’t end up being the right choice for you.

How do I know if I can thrive as a caregiver?

If it’s time to decide on how to care for your senior, here are some things to consider:

Your own health challenges: Are you struggling with a painful condition or debilitating anxiety? Be candid with yourself if you can handle a full-time elder care situation.
Your work and family schedule: Would you be okay with prepping meals, going to appointments, and eventually offering toileting and hygiene assistance for your loved one, in addition to maintaining a career and other life responsibilities?
Other family members: Will you have help from siblings or grown children who can relieve you as needed?
Your disposition: Are you easily flustered or frustrated? How much patience do you have when life can be very aggravating? Think about what you can truly handle without having your own health setbacks.
Your financial situation: Can your budget accommodate another person or will your elder parent have the means to cover some costs for their care? Look into memory care centers like Avalon for price comparisons based on different scenarios.

Note: Caring for an aging parent can get very personal, from getting them dressed to bathing procedures. Many seniors don’t want their child to see them in this vulnerable state, which is why hiring a professional may give your parent a sense of ease that their care won’t embarrass them or make them feel self-conscious.

I’m already a caregiver, but feeling burnout and fatigue. What do you suggest?

Caregiver burnout is real and most of us don’t realize its impact until we’re absolutely exhausted. It not only affects the caregiver’s health, but the quality of care received by your senior. Fatigue can cause serious mistakes, including administering the wrong meds or making errors that lead to falls and other injuries.

Pay attention to these signs, and if you’re finding that you’re barely getting by, it could be time to look into senior living:

Feeling completely overwhelmed
Being easily brought to tears or a loss of temper
Feeling too tired to participate in family activities or hobbies you once enjoyed
Neglecting your own health needs
Developing a medical condition, like an autoimmune disease or worsened mental health
Getting little sleep or low-quality sleep
Engaging in alcohol or drug abuse
Falling behind on work deadlines or missing important appointments

If these symptoms are chronic—versus just having a bad week—our professionals at Avalon are dedicated to helping you and your senior. There’s no harm in having an initial conversation with one of our staff members to see if a senior community is right for your loved one. You can always take some time to think through your options, and we’re always here to answer follow-up questions.

How can I or other family members still help, even if we’re not cut out to be full-time caregivers?

The fact that you’re here, reading ideas that might assist your senior, is already a huge way to be there for them. Keeping up on available resources is something any family member can do.

Here are some additional tips to support your loved one:

Visit your senior frequently, whether they’re still at home or living in a memory care community. Many elders suffer from loneliness and boredom, but a visit will completely brighten their day. If they love pets, bring your dog or cat—a smile is 100% guaranteed!
Shop for any personal items, clothing, or meals they need. Coordinate with their full-time caregiver as to what should be on the list.
Get to know their daily caregivers. This is just as much an act of goodwill as a safety measure. We all want our loved ones to be treated with gentleness and respect. Make sure you know your senior’s general routine and whom they’re interacting with.
Be a caregiver for a few hours so that their full-time person can grab lunch, take a quick nap, or run an errand.
Check on your loved one’s caregiver to see how they’re holding up. Even therapists and memory care professionals can feel emotionally depleted, especially when they build a bond with the person they’re caring for. Write a thank-you note or bring them a gift basket of goodies to show your gratitude.

Caring for your loved one is a noble task, but so is knowing your limits. We applaud you for considering the best route for you and your senior, and doing the thoughtful research. Avalon Memory Care is here to guide you and offer our advice during this complex and emotional time. Please contact us if you need us at (972) 713- 1383 or (888) 522-1918. We’d love to hear your story.

Visiting Your Aging Parent With Memory Loss at Avalon Memory Care 01/02/2018
As a loving son or daughter, you naturally want the best of care for your senior parent. The compassionate assisted living caregivers at Avalon Memory Care want you to know that while your parent is living with us, he or she will receive nothing less than respectful, loving care within our comfortable, safe, and fully-staffed
Celebrating New Year’s Day in Memory Care 01/10/2018
Families often find that celebrations with their loved ones in memory care are easier when they embrace new traditions. For instance, it may not be practical to expect your loved one to stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve. Instead, consider throwing a New Year’s Day celebration, complete with a countdown to the first
Understanding Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia 01/17/2018
Parkinson’s disease is an incurable neurological disorder, with progressively worsening complications. Perhaps the most well-known symptom of Parkinson’s is a hand tremor, but it can also cause speech changes, muscle rigidity, and impaired posture. Eventually, as the disease progresses, more than half of all individuals with Parkinson’s will require dementia care. This particular type of

Testimonials

“Since my mother has lived at Avalon, I have had peace of mind for the first time since Alzheimer’s began to exact its terrible price from my mother’s life. Thank you for your part in making our lives better.”

Daughter | Ft. Worth, TX

“I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the care and love afforded to my mom over the last two weeks. Your success in finding such quality people has my gratitude and respect.”

Daughter | Dallas, TX

“We are very pleased with all of the efforts that your caring staff has made to smooth this traumatic transition.”

Son | Plano, TX

“I know my husband had the very best care in his final days. I regret that I did not know about Avalon sooner.”

Wife | Dallas, TX

“Mom spent the final 8 months of her life in Avalon Memory Care in Allen. The staff was great. There was rarely a day that my brother or I did not come by and they were always friendly to us and did their best to make mom comfortable and happy. We really appreciated them for everything they did.”

Daughter | Allen, TX

“Making the decision to place my mother in residential memory care was the hardest thing I think I have ever done. But living at Avalon has been the best thing for her at this stage of her life.”

Daughter | Allen, TX

“My grandmother has lived at Avalon Memory Care for 6 months now. I cannot speak highly enough about the warmth, dedication, and caring compassion of the staff. They always make us feel welcome and go out of their way to work with us to accommodate grandma’s needs.”

Grandson | Arlington, TX

“My grandmother spent her final days at Avalon and we couldn’t have asked for a better place to care for her. The caregivers are attentive and kind, and many of them have been with Avalon for years. If you are looking for a place to love on you and your family in a season that is inevitably difficult, Avalon is a wonderful choice.”

Granddaughter | Arlington, TX

“We are delighted with the facility of Avalon Memory Care. We just placed Grandma in an apartment with them and couldn’t be happier. It is clean and well-lit, and everyone greets us, down to the folks who clean up.”

Granddaughter | Arlington, TX