Finding Your Caregiver Style For Seniors

Updated 7/14/17 2:40pm | Alert1 works with all sorts of family caregivers who support a wide spectrum of senior needs. There is no right or wrong way to be a caregiver for a loved one. Every family’s needs are different and your caregiving style will evolve based on factors such as security, availability, desire, physical health, and proximity.

Your style should be one that allows you to balance your caregiving responsibilities with your own family’s needs, as well as your work commitments and personal goals. “Just as there are different personality types, leadership styles, or parenting styles -- there are different caregiver styles.” The key is finding a caregiving style that works for you.

Don’t expect to find the perfect caregiving style right away or ease effortlessly into your role as a caregiver. This does happen for some people, but, for most of us, it is a trial-and-error process to find the routine that works for our family.

You may find that your style has to evolve over the years, as your own family gets older and goes through different phases. As you explore your role as a family caregiver, you may want to consider these caregiving styles.

You are the primary caregiver for your loved one and fulfill the majority of their needs. Even though other members of your family may have small responsibilities, you prefer to shoulder the majority of the burden yourself. You research, plan, and execute most of the caregiving.

You care for your aging loved one along side other family members, friends, or caregiving professionals. You may be the person who spearheads everyone’s efforts or keeps the lines of communication open, but everyone involved shares responsibilities as equally as possible.

You research and plan all of the caregiving for your loved one, but you may not be involved in the actual caregiving itself. This is still an important role because there is so much information to keep track of in caregiving. Thanks to technology, this might be a good way for you to be involved even if you don’t live nearby.

You prefer to hire help from professional caregivers to meet most of your loved one’s needs. There are certified adult day programs, in-home care agencies, long-term care facilities, and many other valuable services that can meet a variety of needs. Some people feel that a benefit of this arrangement is that it frees family members up to focus 100% on spending quality time with their loved one.

You’ll find this caregiving style compatible with any of the above roles. Senior medical alert systems allow caregivers to monitor the health of your aging loved ones from a comfortable distance. You are a primary contact within the Circle of Care, and get notified if there are any health complications or incidents with your senior.

Everyone wins with Alert1 emergency monitoring and help button. Your senior can age independently in the comfort of their home.

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No two families will give you the same description of the caregiving style that works for them. What works for your family may not work at all for your neighbor’s family. When you are assessing your family’s needs and determining your caregiving style, don’t forget to establish a caregiver support network for yourself.

It can be easy to forget, but caregivers need care, too. At Alert1 we understand the sacrifices caregivers make and we think that caregivers need put themselves first.

Alert1 wants to know: do you or anyone else in your family fulfill the role of caregiver for an aging loved one? How do you manage the caregiving responsibilities in your family?

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Sources:

http://www.examiner.com/article/what-is-your-caregiver-style

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