How Can An In-home Caregiver Help You Look After Your Loved One With A Chronic Condition?

While most seniors want to live in the comfort of their own home, if they have a chronic condition, they will eventually need assistance with the tasks of daily living. And while caregiving is a rewarding experience, sometimes it can be challenging and overwhelming for the friends and family. This is why many people turn to a professional in-home caregiver, who can not only help improve the quality of life of your loved one with a chronic condition, but also take a lot of stress off the family’s shoulders.

While in our previous article we’ve looked at how a professional in-home caregiver can help seniors with a chronic condition lead a more balanced and fulfilling life, now we’ll look at how they can benefit the whole family. Let’s look at a few examples of how an in-home caregiver can help.

Companionship

Seniors who live at home, especially with an illness, can feel a bit isolated or lonely at times. Having someone around to talk to, play cards with, or go for a walk in the park with can mean a lot – especially if that someone is a trained professional, who knows how to interact with your loved one and how to navigate their disease.

Caregivers get to know your loved one and their preferences and can make sure they can still do meaningful activities in a safe and secure manner. A relationship with a caregiver can really enrich your loved one’s life. And while a caregiver does activities with your loved one, you can enjoy some well-deserved time for yourself.

Exercise

Exercise, however easy and simple, is extremely important for seniors. An in-home caregiver can help your loved one get some daily exercise. They know what is and isn’t possible for them considering their age, situation, and condition, and have methods to make sure that your loved one stays safe in the meantime. They can also take your loved one safely out of the house, which again frees up some of your own time you can spend focusing on your own well being.

Light Housekeeping

If you’re caring for a loved one with a chronic condition, you want to spend as much quality time together as possible. However, there are times when caregiving can be mentally and physically overwhelming and the last thing you need is having to deal with dishes piled up in the sink or an over-pouring laundry basket. While it’s important to keep in mind that an in-home caregiver is not a housekeeper and is primarily there to look after your loved one’s needs, they can help out with a few light housekeeping tasks, taking this burden off your shoulders.

Meal Preparations

Certain chronic conditions can cause seniors to lose their appetite and can make it difficult for them to eat and drink regularly. However, following a healthy and balanced diet is extremely important, and this is where an in-home caregiver can prove to be really helpful. They can not only help with meal preparations, but also make sure that your loved one’s diet is balanced, they get the nutrients that they need, and that they eat their meals regularly and drink enough water.

Personal Hygiene Assistance

As we age, many everyday activities, such as dressing and bathing, can become more challenging. For a person with a medical condition, these can sometimes be almost impossible to do without assistance. An in-home caregiver can help seniors manage day-to-day activities, from personal hygiene to medication reminders. They also know how to do such things professionally, so you don’t have to deal with situations that can sometimes feel awkward or a little uncomfortable.

Transportation

An in-home caregiver can accompany your loved one to medical appointments or can drive them to pick up groceries or prescriptions, giving you some well-deserved time to focus on yourself and your own life. When providing care for someone, your own needs can become a bit neglected, and you may not have enough time for yourself. Remember that you need a break from time to time so you can be your best self again when you’re around your loved one. An in-home caregiver can help you get some free time to rest and enjoy your hobbies.

If you think your loved one would benefit from having an in-home caregiver, we can help you find a trained professional. Learn more about our services and expertise and get in touch with us through our website.