Swap Shop

November marks National Caregivers Month. We seniors should give a cheer for this commemoration, since we so often find ourselves in caregiver mode. Whether we are car- ing for a parent, a child or grandchildren, we risk succumb- ing to overload. Here are a few tips to help you do what you do without overdoing it. 1. Keep good records . Medical personnel can bet- ter analyze patterns and side effects if you provide them with information such as what time medica- tion was administered, was it taken with or without food, and what conditions were when behavior began. Something as simple as giving food with the medication may be the answer you need to have fewer side effects. These records can be especially crucial if more than one person is administering drugs. 2. Engage others to help you. Family members can contribute assistance according to their capa- bilities. Don’t discount the importance of financial help from someone who can’t help in person. Those funds can help you hire some outside relief. 3. Understand asking for help doesn’t reflect badly on you. The one you care for needs some variety as much as you need a break. A visit from another family member or an old friend can help brighten the patient’s day. 4. Learn all you can about the underlying condition and what you can expect as it progresses. That gives you a chance to prepare for what’s coming, whether it be making modification to the physical environment or mental adjustments in your expec- tations. 5. Prioritize . Do what’s most important to you and your patient first. Maybe you’ve always made your bed immediately upon rising, but now you wake to your patient’s call. The bed will wait for you to make it later. Don’t stress over it or feel guilty. Caring for a loved one is a much higher calling than making up a bed first thing. 6. Make time for yourself. Find time to do some- thing you enjoy, something which helps you to relax. Rather than hover over whoever is relieving you, get out of sight and renew yourself. Take a walk, read a book, enjoy a cup of coffee on the patio…whatever will help to rejuvenate you for the task ahead. You deserve it. You can’t give your pa- tient what is needed if you are exhausted. I offer these tips from personal experience. I wish someone had given them to me when I was taking care of my mother. © 2020 Mary Beth Magee Author/speaker Mary Beth Magee writes cozy Christian fiction, po- etry, children’s books and devotions, including a book of devotions geared towards caregivers. For more on her writing and training sessions, visit her website at www.LOL4.net . 22 SOUTHERN SENIOR MAGAZINE | Fall 2020 S Six Tips for Caregivers By Mary Beth Magee www.LOL4.net