Caregiver Roles
4. When cooking and preparing food, keep in mind likes and dislikes. If your loved one enjoys a certain food, but is unable to eat it because of the texture, blend or puree it. This may be very helpful with fruit as you can make fruit smoothies in a blender with your loved ones favourite fruits and even veggies.
5. Safety proof the home. This will help you with not worrying as much about your loved one's safety. If you would like suggestions, please refer to my past article, Home Safety.
6. Always remember that you are doing the best that you can. It is okay to ask for help. Often, we find it difficult to say "yes" to people who offer to help. So, the next time a neighbor, friend, or family member say to you, "Do you need anything from the store?" accept the thoughtful gesture with a smile and a "thank you." People offer to help because they want to. They don't offer because they expect something in return. It is very normal to need help. The caregiving role is not an easy one.
7. Listen to yourself and to your loved one. If you are feeling you need a break, do all that you can to get that break. Even if it is for only 10 minutes. Listen to those you are caring for as they may be able to tell you that they can do certain tasks on their own. Allow loved ones to do as much on their own as possible. One: it makes them feel that they are still independent and two: you get more time to yourself.
If you would like to learn more about how you, the caregiver, can make the caregiving role easier on yourself, please follow the links below:
Help Guide.org
Learning Place.com
Next month, my article is going to focus on feelings associated with caregiving. There are a number of common feelings that caregivers have when caring for their loved ones. Unfortunately, some caregivers may not expresss these feelings out of guilt for having these feelings. My aim is to enlighten caregivers on these feelings and to assure caregivers that these feelings are ALL normal.
I would like to end with a poem about a little boy and an old man.
The Little Boy And The Old Man
Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon."
Said the little old man, "I do that
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