Being the Best Caregiver You Can Be
Whether by choice or necessity, we all take on the role of caregiver for someone we love at one point or another. This role is one that can bring joy and fulfillment to your heart, but can also be emotionally and physically exhausting.
While navigating the ins and outs of being a caregiver, it’s easy to get bogged down by the responsibility on your shoulders. The following traits and emotions often help with how to handle the day-to-day stresses that come with attending to a patient with a life-limiting illness.
How to be a great hospice caregiver
- Patience.
Patience is key to handling any day-to-day activities of a terminally ill patient. Your loved one may have physical or mental limitations brought on by their condition. That may mean that when planning an outing (the store, a doctor's visit, physical therapy beyond the home) or daily exercise, you need to leave an allotted amount of time to leave the house and move in and out of vehicles. Patience for mental limitations can have a soothing impact on a patient with alzheimer's or dementia. Gentle reminders every few hours or so can help alleviate the stress that is brought upon when they feel that plans have changed suddenly or they realize they’ve forgotten an important day or event.
- Flexibility.
While caring for a loved one may require a certain amount of physical flexibility (reaching for plugs, maneuvering around obstacles) we are focusing more on planning flexibility and the ability to change based on the situation. As cliche as it sounds, being able to “go with the flow” is vital for caregivers. Doctors visits may change, which could meds need to be refilled or physical therapy may need to be rescheduled. Sometimes, it just means missing that 15 minute nap you planned out in the middle of the day. Flexibility in timing and coordination is imperative because the situation of a patient will more often than not fluctuate with the progression of their condition.
- Reliability.
This is a trait that most caregivers have down to a science because almost everyone’s lives require reliability. In the outside world, reliability means you show up to work on time, do your job without needing constant direction, and making sure to sleep enough that night so that you can do it all over again the next day. It has a similar meaning in terms of caregiving, but for very different reasons. While showing up on time to work is important to your employers for productivity, being reliable to a patient in your charge means you care. It means they believe you will show up the next day, even if they can’t remember your name any longer. It creates an environment that allows your loved on to feel stable and cared for. The more patients can rely on caregivers to be there for support often correlates with improved health and function. Remember to always be true to your word.
- Lastly, empathy and compassion.
It may seem to be the most obvious trait, but it is easily the hardest to employ when caring for a terminally ill patient. The stress that comes with feeding, bathing, clothing, and attending to the needs of another human can often impact our abilities to handle other shifting factors in their lives. While anger and frustration are understandable emotions can happen when they’ve forgotten yet again to tell you about an appointment or other requisite for that day, take a deep breath and remind yourself that it is not their fault. You love them, and they love you on a deeper level that you may understand. Their reliance on you doesn’t come from a flippant attitude for your own daily existence; it comes from a need. They are children in their own way, and reliance on another person may not come easily to them. Find empathy for their situation, be compassionate in the care you provide, and you will be the best caregiver that you can be.
Talk to a hospice care specialist today
If you’d like to speak confidentially with one of our caregiving experts, please feel free to give us a call at 724-335-1600, Lhank@Monarchhospice.net, or online at http://www.monarchhospice.net/contact.html.
