Three Ways to Be a Great Caregiver for Your Senior Parent

Caring for a parent as they age can be both a rewarding and stressful experience. If you have found yourself being the main caregiver for one or both of your parents, you might be wondering what you can do to properly care for seniors.

Learn All You Can About Their Health Conditions

If you need to be a caregiver for your parent, they are likely dealing with at least one health condition. Take the time to learn about your parent’s health problems. When possible, you may want to go with your parent to doctor’s appointments so you can ask questions. Knowing all you can about what your parent is dealing with will help you provide the best care for them. You’ll better understand when you should be concerned, when you need to get your parent to a doctor right away, and what you can do to best help your parent.

Give Them Independence

There is often a thin line between caring for your parent and not giving them enough independence. While the exact level of independence will depend on your parent’s specific situation, it is important to give the person as much independence as possible. Don’t try to do something for your parent that they can do for themselves and that want to do for themselves. Allow your parent to feel useful and not like a burden as much as possible.

Ask for Help

One of the most important things you can do for your parent as well as yourself is to ask for help. You cannot be a caregiver 24/7 for long before you will feel burnt-out. This is not good for you or your parent. Ask others for help, whether it’s a sibling, a neighbor, or someone else. At Mayberry Gardens, we have adult respite care, which allows you to take some time for yourself while knowing that your parent is safe.

Contact us to learn more about being a great caregiver for your senior parent. We are here to assist with questions as well as to help you when you need a break from your caregiving duties.