by Gretchen Napier Geagan, MSHA, CMC
Owner of Life-Links Geriatric Care Management
May is Geriatric Care Management Month, providing an opportunity to spread awareness of the dynamics of caring for aging loved ones. Almost everybody – whether a daughter, son or relative – will, at some point in their life, care for an aging individual. It’s not an easy job, and it’s important for caregivers to be equipped with the tools to deal with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias while also caring for themselves. It’s equally important these caregivers know when it may be necessary to call on the assistance of a professional. Here are a few important tips and strategies to keep in mind while caring for an aging loved one:
- Assess your loved one’s cognitive and physical abilities daily. Some days, your loved one will be able to do things they aren’t able to do on other days. If you constantly do everything for them, they’ll lose that ability quicker. But if you ask more of them than they are capable of, you both may become frustrated. Learn as much as you can about your loved one’s illness – the more you know, the more effective you’ll be and the less anxiety you’ll feel about your role caring for them.
- Allow caring people to help. Make a list of things people could do for you and the next time a neighbor, friend or someone at church asks if they can help, you’ll most likely be able to say yes. Allowing others to assist in caring for your loved one will help keep you from neglecting your own care. Also seek out other caregivers. It’s comforting to know you’re not alone. Other caregivers understand what you’re going through.
- Know your limits. As a caregiver, you have a higher risk of stress, anxiety, exhaustion and anger, which can turn into depression, poor physical health and chronic conditions. Be realistic about how much of yourself you can give. Setting clear limits and communicating these to your family, doctor and others involved can keep you from feeling overwhelmed.
- Allow yourself some grace. Caregiving is difficult. You will make mistakes, become frustrated and in some moments lose your cool. Forgive your loved one for their frustrating behavior and forgive yourself for getting frustrated.
The last thing a caregiver wants to feel is burdened by their loved one’s needs. It’s okay to call on the assistance of a Professional Geriatric Care Manager for support. A PGCM can fill gaps that many individual caregivers may not even realize exist. Professionals are typically trained in gerontology, social work, nursing or psychology, and most have years of experience in the medical field and can help you decipher the medical maze. PGCMs can also screen, place and monitor in-home help or locate a retirement community or nursing home – their job is to identify problems and provide solutions.
To find a PGCM near you, go to the non-profit National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers at www.caremanager.org for a list of members tailored to your location.
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Gretchen Napier Geagan, MSHA, CMC is the owner of Life-Links Geriatric Care Management, a locally owned and operated company whose team of Registered Nurses, Social Workers, Counselors and Long Term Care Administrators has been working with families to navigate the complicated processes of aging since 2002. For more information about Life-Links Geriatric Care Management, please visit www.life-links.org.
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