Caregiving for Older Relatives with Disabilities
The CaregiverYou may be a spouse, son, daughter, neighbor, close friend, or distant relative. As a caregiver you are making concessions and personal sacrifice to provide care for another person. This can create areas of conflict and high levels of stress in your life. At any age, you probably have important goals and plans that are interrupted or postponed of caregiver responsibilities. As a caregiver you may be providing care out of love or out of some obligation. You may be providing the support alone or coordinating the work of others. You may find caregiver tasks satisfying and rewarding or completely frustrating. What is a Caregiver?
It can happen slowly, over along period of time, or suddenly, in the cause of illness or accident. It can also mean that the older relative may live with you, near you, or miles away. The elderly person may be physically disabled or mentally impaired, or both. Depending on the specific need, caregiving can be a lot of different activities, including:
- Providing round-the-clock supervision
- Supervising others who provide direct care
- Shopping
- Answering the telephone
- Traveling to and from the relative’s home
- Maintaining two homes – yours and that of your relative
- Lifting, bathing, dressing, and feeding
- Managing incontinence
- Providing for health care
- Listening, talking, and providing emotional support
How elder needs increase with age and how family members can provide support.
