Family Caregivers Archives - Golden Heart Indy

How Does 24-Hour Home Care Work When Your Dad Lives With You?

Posted on April 22, 2022December 29, 2023 by Craig Bass

24-Hour Home Care in Indianapolis IN

One mistake family caregivers often make is thinking that they can’t have a caregiver help out when their parent lives with them. You’ll find 24-hour home care services are especially helpful when your dad lives with you. But, how does it work? Wouldn’t it infringe on your privacy?

What Is Your Living Arrangement?

When family members move a parent in with them, they usually convert an area of the home into an in-law apartment. This arrangement makes it possible for everyone to have some privacy while being under the same roof.

In this case, the caregivers providing 24-hour care will come and go without impacting your privacy. But, you might have your dad in a spare bedroom in your home. Will that impact privacy?

Remember that the caregivers are there to help your dad. They’re not there to get in your way or infringe on your privacy. You do need to give the caregivers room to work, however, and you can’t interfere. Let them do their job.

What Can 24-Hour Home Care Aides Help With?

What will 24-hour home care aides do for your dad? First, they are on duty throughout the day and night. If your dad has been waking you up in the middle of the night seeking a meal or snack, those days are over.

Have caregivers tend to his needs during the night. You get the right amount of sleep to properly function each day. You’ll be able to focus on your job, your children, and your personal life. You also can spend time with your dad when you want.

The 24-hour home care aides are not there to do your chores, however. You can’t ask them to do your laundry, dirty dishes, or cook your meals. The caregivers are not there to drive your children to school. Remember that they’re there to help your dad with personal care and companion care needs.

Avoid conflict by having a clear list of tasks your dad needs and what you and your children are responsible for. Note what you will do, such as be the one to drive him to his doctor’s appointments, and what the caregivers need to do. Don’t ask them to take on chores that are on your list unless it’s directly related to your dad’s care and they approve it.

Partner With 24-Hour Home Care Aides

Don’t let your dad’s care interfere with your job, your children’s needs, and your personal life. If you push your need to socialize, work, and take care of your family aside, you can impact relationships and your self-care needs.

With 24-hour home care aides, you’re able to support your dad when the time is right, but you’re not giving up the rest of your daily routine. Call a home care agency to learn more.

If you or an aging loved one is considering 24-hour home care in Indianapolis, IN, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care today. 317-550-1276

You’re Helping Your Dad, But Who’s Helping You?

Posted on March 27, 2022December 29, 2023 by Craig Bass

Home Care Assistance in Fishers IN

Since his stroke, your dad cannot manage activities of daily living without someone’s help. You jumped in to help, but you realize it’s more than you were expecting. It’s time to address some of the issues family caregivers face when caring for their aging parents.

Ignoring Their Health Needs

A percentage of family caregivers push aside yearly medical check-ups to free up time. Sometimes, it’s a case of spending so much time in medical offices with your dad that you simply can’t stand to go again.

Putting off your medical care is a bad idea. Regular exams are the best way to identify health issues in their early stages. You need to attend health exams on a regular schedule. That means things like mammograms, blood tests, colonoscopies, and measurements of height, weight, and blood pressure do not get pushed aside.

Poor Eating Habits

You spend so much time helping your dad that you’re not in a mood to cook when you get home. Instead, you pick up fast food or takeout. These high-salt, high-fat meals aren’t healthy. You need to find quick, easy recipes that offer the balanced diet you need.

Spend a day preparing meals you can put into a slow cooker. Aim for a type of lean protein, whole grain, and plenty of vegetables. Soups, stews, and casseroles can cook all day and include all of the components you need for healthy eating.

Lack of Socialization

You’re with your dad all day. You constantly tell your friends you don’t have time to meet up. Your social life is taking a hit, and you don’t know what to do.

You cannot let your dad’s care impact your social life. Ensure you’re taking time each week to be social. Go out with friends, have a small gathering in your home, or join a support group to have the chance to talk to others.

Too Little Free Time

Many family caregivers are sandwiched between generations. They’re caring for children, spouses, and parents simultaneously. You don’t have enough hours in the day to do everything for each member of your family.

When it feels overwhelming, it’s time to look into home care assistance. Have caregivers take over some of the tasks on your list. Things still get done, but you’re not the only one responsible for them. You free up time.

Home care assistance is the best way to ensure your dad has a helping hand while getting the break you need. Caregivers help your dad while you run errands, stay home and tend to your own needs, or go on vacation.

To arrange home care assistance, make a call. Talk to a home care specialist to get answers to your questions and to learn more about prices.

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care assistance in Fishers, IN, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care today. 317-550-1276

Tips For Taking Care Of A Senior Loved One By Yourself

Posted on February 4, 2022December 29, 2023 by Craig Bass

Home Care in Fortville IN

Taking care of a senior loved one can be tough even if you have siblings or extended family who can help you. If you’re an only child or don’t have the help of other family members and friends, it can be even more difficult. Emotionally and physically caregiving for a senior loved one requires a lot of strength. If your senior loved one has dementia or other serious medical problems, that adds to the complexity of caring for a senior loved one too. The best things that you can do to take care of a senior loved one by yourself are:

Get Some Help With The Day To Day Tasks

The physical tasks that need to be done to help your senior loved one can be done by a home care provider. It can be a big help to you and to your senior loved one to have a home care provider help with the cooking, the shopping and errands, the vacuuming, cleaning, laundry, dishes, and the other household tasks. The more tasks you can delegate to someone else the more time you will have to devote to other aspects of care and to taking care of yourself.

Ensure the Safety of their Home

If your senior loved one is going to be aging in place one of the best things that you can do is renovate the house and give it a senior-friendly makeover. Get the roof checked, cleaned, and repaired if necessary. Also get the major mechanical systems like the HVAC checked, and the plumbing. Having professionals come in to assess and clean various parts of the house will prevent you from having to deal with house-related emergencies later on. Or at least it will lower the risk of future emergencies. Set up standing appointments to have home maintenance tasks done on a regular basis so you will know that the house is being kept in good repair.

Set Some Boundaries

Even though it can be hard to set boundaries you will need to establish some boundaries in order to make sure that you have the time and mental energy needed to take care of your life obligations like work and your family. Remember that you don’t have to do everything for your senior parent yourself. A home care provider can be a great resource for helping with the immense responsibility of caring for a senior parent. Establish boundaries and stick to them.

Take Care Of Yourself

It’s a big life adjustment when you start caring for a senior loved one. Even if you have outside help like a home care provider you will still be spending a lot of time and mental energy caring for your senior parent. In order to make sure that you are able to handle the added responsibility you should make time for self care. Take care of yourself by eating healthy, making time to exercise, and getting some counseling or joining a support group to make sure your have good mental health.

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in Fortville, IN, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care today. 317-550-1276

4 Ways 24-Hour Home Care Helps Family Caregivers and Seniors

Posted on November 24, 2021December 26, 2023 by Craig Bass

24-Hour Home Care in Fortville IN

When your mom’s health changes and reaches a point that she needs 24-hour care, what are your options? It may feel impossible to get the help your mom needs, especially when you’re the only one helping her out. Have you looked at the benefits of 24-hour home care for your senior parent?

She’s Never Alone Unless She Wants to Be

Your mom doesn’t have to be alone. If she has a chronic condition like dementia that requires her to have help with transfers, she doesn’t have to worry about waking up at night and struggling to get to the bathroom independently.

Your mom could have cancer and need someone with her 24/7 if she’s dizzy or so nauseous that she can’t move safely without help. Around-the-clock caregivers work in teams to make sure your mom isn’t alone throughout the day and night.

She Never Misses a Dose of Her Prescription Medications

Some medications have to be taken at specific intervals. If that’s the case, you may worry about your mom missing a dose. If that happens, would she try to double up? That can be dangerous.

If she has caregivers around all day and night, she has someone to remind her when it’s time to take each dose. It prevents her from taking too much or too little of a medication that is keeping her as healthy as possible.

You Aren’t Always On Duty

You’re the primary caregiver for your mom. She has Alzheimer’s and is prone to wandering. When you’re trying to sleep, she’ll wake up and try to get outside. Nights of waking in the middle of the night to door or window alarms are causing exhaustion. You can’t focus, and it’s dangerous to drive when you’re tired.

With caregivers working in shifts throughout the night, you don’t have to worry about getting up and redirecting her. You can sleep through while caregivers redirect her.

You Have Peace of Mind

You might live on the other side of the country and worry about your mom being alone. As her health changes, you’d be happier knowing someone is always in her house and ready to help.

With 24/7 caregivers, she has someone to help out as needed. She’s still independent at home, but she’s with people who care for her well-being. That gives you peace of mind.

How Do You Get the Help You Need?

Schedule 24-hour home care services easily by making a phone call. Talk to an expert in home care about your mom’s care needs. Once a care plan is developed, 24-hour home care aides are scheduled when your family needs services.

If you or an aging loved one is considering 24-hour home care in Fortville, IN, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care today. 317-550-1276

Tag: Family Caregivers