Choosing to be a Caregiver: Is Caregiving right for you?

Caregiving offers the necessary assistance, guidance, and encouragement to your loved one which is needed to get them through each day. One thing to keep in mind is, Caregiving is not for everyone. It is important to determine whether or not you are capable of providing for all your loved one’s needs in every aspect of their lives.

Today’s blog we will be talking about questions to ask yourself that can help you determine if caregiving is right for you. Before committing to being your loved ones Caregiver asks yourself these following questions:

Do you have the time and skills to perform tasks such as cooking, cleaning, running errands, providing transportation, and managing finances?

More than likely you already do these things for yourself, however, if your loved one does not live with you, you will be doing these tasks for two residences. It’s important to realize the responsibility you would be taking on with having to take care of two homes.

How do you feel about providing personal care to your loved one such as bathing, dressing, and/or feeding?

These needs may change the dynamic of the relationship between you and your loved one. You must consider if you are capable of developing the comfort level to meet these needs of your loved one.

Do you have the authority to make decisions for your loved one relating to their health care and finances?

If you do then, taking care of your loved ones needs may be a little easier. If not, it is important to communicate with who is and establish how these needs will be provided for whether you will be given the authority to make health care and financial decisions or if the authority will be shared with another family member.

Do you know your own limits?

Being honest with yourself on what level of care you can provide your loved one is important. Knowing you have reached your skill set or even your level of endurance is important to avoid a hazardous situation that can affect you and your loved one. Bringing in additional caregiving support to assist you in caring for your loved one may be the answer for you.

Does your current job allow you to take care of the responsibilities of caregiving?

There may be a time where you may have to break away from your job to deal with a crisis that may involve your loved one. It is important to consider your career when deciding if caregiving is right for you. If your career does not allow you to deal with situations that may come up, it may be best to consider other caregiving options or change your career if that is something that you are willing to do.

How is your own physical and mental health?

It is important to consider your own physical and mental health because let’s face it, there is no way you can take care of your loved with to the best of your ability meeting every possible need that they may have if you cannot even take care and meet the needs of yourself. You have to consider the long hours, the loss of sleep, the financial burden, your physical strength which can all be hard on you physically and mentally if you are not prepared to deal with what comes with being a Caregiver.

Do you have a support network who can pitch in and provide as a Caregiver?

Having a support network such as other family members is important because it allows You, the primary Caregiver, a chance to take a day off or have help with major decisions relating to your loved one. Consider who would be willing to support you as a Caregiver and provide a listening ear when you need to talk. If you don’t have a support system in place reach healthcare providers in your area who can support you as a Caregiver.

These questions are important to consider and think about before committing to be a Caregiver for your loved one. Knowing your limits, considering your career and your financial state, knowing if you are able to physically and mentally deal with the major change in your life are all very important when deciding if caregiving is right for you. You do not want to take on a responsibility as big as taking care of someone else if you do not have the means, energy, skills, or time to take care of them and yourself.

Check in with us next week when we will be talking about the first step to becoming a caregiver which is educating yourself on what you need to know when you are committing to be someone’s caregiver or are caring for a loved one with Dementia or Alzheimer’s.