Caregiving

Caregiving can occur for a multitude of reasons. From accidents to sudden diagnoses to a slow health decline overtime, it’s important to be prepared. I plan to encourage all my close friends and family to have a living will to prepare for the worst. This can ensure their wishes are taken into account and will make financial and legal processes easier. It’s important to know the right steps in learning how to take care of someone. First, I plan to be open and honest about my concerns. I’ll bring it up casually but depending upon the severity of the situation, I may have to be direct if this person doesn’t think they need help. Addressing my concerns will help us figure out the next move in dealing with the issue. Compromising is vital here as the person I am caregiving for should be included in every discussion, choice, and fact about their condition. Communication is important to make this easier mentally for both parties; I will want the person I am taking care of to be as happy as possible. I also will involve other people so we can all assist and decide the best course of action. This may be other family members or close friends. Working as a team, as suggested in the article 5 Steps for First-Time Family Caregivers, makes it easier to handle the stress of the situation. Next, we will make a plan of action considering both short term and long term situations. A great guide to breaking down long term care by sections is the article What Defines Long Term Care? Which Types of Care are Included. Granted, a lot of these hypothetical decisions are contingent upon the condition at hand; however it’s important to consider all possibilities. Caregiving tasks can vary and may get more difficult overtime if the condition worsens. It’s important this team of people has an efficient way to communicate whether it’s through shared calendars or group chats. Staying organized may be tedious at times but will make all the difference in the long run. When discussing caregiving, one’s own mental health must be taken into account. If I ever am a caregiver for someone, I will remind myself to stay healthy and to ensure my mental health is in a good place. It is also important to consider how my job accommodates my new status as a caregiver. I will need to see if any federal assistance can be given through the Family and Medical Leave Act. My budget will also need serious work when taking caregiving into account. Looking at my loved one’s finances will be important to help deal with the financial aspect. A helpful website when considering finances in caregiving is Paying for Care. There are also multiple ways to find support for my loved one. National Agencies, Groups and Organizations for Caregivers is a great resource to find services for loved ones. It will be useful to organize important papers that may be needed such as legal documents like birth certificates, social security cards, passports, insurance policies, and more. I will explore financial assistance if I am confused at any part of the process. There are many public benefits that may apply to me such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security Disability Insurance, among others. It will also be valuable to look at life insurance policies. While caregiving can be difficult, preparing early and knowing the steps can help make it easier. 

 

List of things to do:

• Encourage family and friends to have a living will. 

• Start the conversation by being open and honest, despite the uncomfortable feeling. 

• Respect the person’s wishes and compromise in every situation. 

• Talk to other family members or friends to decide the best course of action. 

• Find an effective way to communicate with the team of people involved. 

• Stay organized!

• Remember my own mental health when caregiving. 

• Research to see if I qualify for the Family and Medical Leave Act or other government aid. 

• Look at loved one’s finances and adjust my own budget accordingly. 

• Research information on resources for services to help. 

• Organize important documents. 

• Look for financial or legal help if needed.

• Explore public benefits and life insurance policies.