You want to savor every moment with your aging parents in the time they have left. You want to to be present for them, knowing they need a level of attention and care that is sometimes hard to provide, especially if you live a long distance.

But how do you become an effective caregiver with all the other responsibilities you have to address?

Many adults find themselves in the "sandwich generation," caring for an elderly parent while grappling with the struggles of her everyday life, which may include children of their own. A professional caregiver is an option to provide a higher quality of care for both elderly loved ones and those responsible for their well-being.

Ways a Professional Caregiver Can Help

1. Create a Customized Care Plan

A care plan is a road map for home care that ensures smooth transitions and minimizes stress for your loved one, any family caregivers and/or your professional caregiver. A customized care plan covers a senior’s physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. To begin creating the plan, a care professional will consult with you and your loved one in the senior’s home to assess the needs, as well as the needs of any current caregivers. He or she will then draft a plan that makes sure the right services are provided, personalizing the plan to your loved one’s needs, personality and preferences. A well-crafted care plan will be flexible and adjusted as needed.

2. Establish a Trusted Relationship

Some seniors are more willing to accept help than others, so before even beginning care it’s important we build consensus with your loved one. It begins with selecting your caregiver. Select senior home care agencies, like Visiting Angels, will allow families the opportunity to interview the caregiver before service begins. You and your loved one will have the peace of mind that the recommended senior care professional has the experience and personality that your loved one deserves. Trust-building continues with listening. Your loved one, and in fact everyone associated with providing private duty care, need to know his or her concerns are heard and that his or her input matters. Being a good listener and respecting confidentiality, along with routine reliability, is at the foundation to building trust and relationships.

3. Help make daily life better

What do the caregivers physically do? When you find the right professional caregiver, you should expect the following responsibilities:

• Bathing and toileting assistance*
• Walking assistance*
• Grooming
• Dressing*
• Light housekeeping, including laundry
• Errands
• Grocery shopping
• Meal prep
• Joyful companionship
• Doctor appointment and medication reminders
• Hospice support
• Activities of daily living

If it sounds like a lot, it’s because it is. We won’t sugarcoat it: Caregiving is very demanding work, and although helping those in need can be the most rewarding profession in the world, at times it’s very stressful. The truth is that sometimes it’s better to defer to professionals with years of experience caring for loved ones like yours.

A professional will help provide peace of mind, for both yourself and your loved one, that he or she is safe, comfortable and happy. You want to make the best decision possible for the person who helped you for all these years. Visiting Angels offers in-home consultations* to discuss your loved one’s care and what services might help.