When a senior loved one like a parent or close relative suffers through a health episode, it often takes a while to adjust once the hospital care is over and done with. If you are stepping into a leading role to care for their needs during the recovery period, you will need a strong support network and a great deal of resilience. Knowing how to navigate this stretch is essential, and here are some things that could help.
Establishing a Routine
The value of a reliable routine should never be underestimated, especially when it comes to healing and well-being. The physical and mental benefits are easy to see, and include things like combatting depression and anxiety, bringing comfort, and supporting better cognitive health. Help your loved one get back to feeling like themselves again by making sure they have a level of predictability in the days to come. Figure out a rhythm that suits everyone in the house and listen to their needs within that framework too.
Listening to Doctors
Listening to doctors is highly recommended. It is impossible to help someone on a healing journey if you do not have all of the facts supporting your actions and choices. They will have an extensive set of notes on their condition, and they should be able to share this with you in order to cement the best possible care plan as things move forward. Get a sense of what they went through and the most common ways to provide support or assistance in the days to come. For example, helping them to manage their medication and understanding what doses need to happen and when is a crucial point to uncover.
Leaning on Professional Support
Don’t forget that you are not expected to do it all, all of the time. There are reliable services that provide overnight senior care so that you can take a break, and you absolutely should. Looking after your well-being is the only way to give your best energy to their healing process.
Being Your Most Compassionate Self
When someone is going through a major medical transition, they are a special kind of vulnerable. When you step into the role of carer, you are agreeing to bring compassion to the table at all times. This means understanding what they are going through and showing empathy above all else.
Helping the Family Adjust Too
It is not just your life that will change, but the lives of everyone who lives with you as well. This is especially true of any children in the house, and supporting them through this transition is extremely important. Get this right by being gentle, open, and responsive to any questions they may have. Prepare the family and make sure they are on board with the decision, in particular your partner, because it will demand something from each and every person in the environment.
Caring for a senior loved one like a parent after a major medical episode is a natural thing for any relative to want to do. There are certain things that will make life easier for everyone, and they should be taken on board before you dive in.
