Becoming a caregiver with no prior experience can be an incredibly daunting and overwhelming task. If you have recently found yourself this position, it’s important to take the right steps to ensure that your loved one, and yourself, are taken care of. As a first-time caregiver, you may not know how or where to begin, EverHome Care Advisors is here to help you make informed and educated decisions. Whether there has been an unfortunate accident, and your loved one suddenly needs your help, or it has been a gradual growth of the need for care, remember to take things one step at a time.
Our first tip for new caregivers is to start the conversation and communicate with your elderly loved one. It can be extremely difficult to admit that one needs help, especially to their children. What’s important in these first conversations is to establish that you are there to support and advocate for them, and reassure they will be involved and able to participate in decisions moving forward. Define their wishes and ensure that you are both on the same page for all matters from health and medical decisions to finances and everything in between. Discussing this information ahead of time will allow for clarity if a crisis ever occurs. Remember that you are not alone! It can be incredibly isolating when having to dedicate your time to caring for an aging loved one.
Put a plan in place. Keeping your loved one safe and at home is a top priority, and there are many mazes in the healthcare system that you will have to navigate. EverHome Care Advisors prides itself on being the place you can turn to to get answers from experts in the field. Creating a solid plan of action to keep your loved one in place, safe, and healthy is what our Life Care Coordinators do every day. They help with the management of care options, assist you in coping with health and age-related changes, explore insurance entitlements, navigate the legal, insurance and financial aspects of caregiving, and work to find caregiving resources for you in your community.
Be organized. Staying organized will help relieve stress and keep you feeling on track and put together. When dealing with countless doctors, appointments, medications, and more, having a solid foundation of organization will be extremely helpful.
Our final tip to being a caregiver is: don’t forget to care. Care for your loved one and yourself. Caregiving can be incredibly overwhelming. Ensure that you are feeling comfortable and confident with every step, and if you aren’t, ask for help! In a dynamic and at times inefficient healthcare system, you won’t know all the answers or even sometimes the right questions to ask. Our experts are here to ensure that you are making educated and informed decisions.
At EverHome Care Advisors, our mission is to provide caregiving solutions, care planning services, and health care advocacy to those in need. Our team is passionate about changing the landscape of the healthcare world for the elderly and finding ways to allow them to remain in their home. Our Life Care Coordinators are licensed by NYS, members of the Aging Life Care Association® and are available 24/7. If you have found yourself in the position of a new caregiver role to an elderly loved one or parent, it’s time to start taking the right steps to ensure their care is managed appropriately and effectively.