1. Discussing Negative Topics 

You should never bring up situations, people, and things that will have a negative effect on your loved one’s mental, physical, and emotional health. Negative topics could lead to disagreements and a tense atmosphere between you and your loved one. Avoid topics that could lead to fear, anger, and frustration. 

 Caring for senior loved ones can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care for the help they need. We provide high-quality respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.

2. Setting High Expectations

Almost all family caregivers want to help their loved ones stave off age-related illnesses, but this isn’t always possible. Avoid stepping into your caregiver role with unrealistic expectations. While continuing to provide exceptional care for your loved one and motivating him or her to make healthy lifestyle choices, remember to refrain from putting stressful expectations on both your loved one and yourself. Set small goals and work hard to achieve them. Always accept your best and applaud yourself on a regular basis. 

3. Taking on Too Much

You cannot do everything without help from family and friends. You’ll need to take regular breaks and time off to give your body a chance to rest. Failing to get help could lead to mental and physical exhaustion. 

To prevent burnout, ask others to help out with your loved one’s daily tasks, regardless of how big or small those tasks are. You can also use respite care to give yourself time off to regroup and recharge. 

In Dana Point, in-home care is a great help to many families. Caring for a senior loved one can be overwhelming at times, which puts family caregivers at risk for burnout. However, an in-home caregiver can take over your loved one’s care, allowing you the time you need to focus on your own health, maintain a full-time job, or care for other members of your family.

4. Eating Poorly

Finding the time to prepare healthy snacks and meals may be difficult, but turning to unhealthy meals and fast-food restaurants is a mistake you should avoid making. Plan your meals out at the beginning of the week. You can also find a diet you and your loved one can enjoy following together. 

5. Ignoring Advice from Medical Experts

When you fail to listen to the advice of professionals, you could put your loved one’s health in jeopardy. To avoid this mistake, don’t be dismissive of advice, and remember online research doesn’t make you an expert. Some of the things you research could be inaccurate, so you’ll need to trust your loved one’s doctor and other healthcare professionals. 

6. Withdrawing from Social Activities

Being a family caregiver doesn’t mean your personal life has to stop. Caregivers who stop socializing with people other than the senior loved ones they’re caring for could become depressed, stressed, bored, and lonely. 

Find a good balance between your social life and your caregiving duties. Make it a priority to take time off so you can go to dinner with friends, enjoy a concert with your partner, or spend time with your children and other relatives.

Family caregivers who need help caring for their senior loved ones should consider professional in-home care. Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated senior home care, South Orange County families can turn to Assisting Hands® Dana Point. Our caregivers are expertly trained to assist seniors with a wide array of important tasks, including cooking, bathing, light housekeeping, and exercise. If you need professional home care for your loved one, reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (949) 426-7300.