Transitioning Into Your Role As A Family Caregiver

Caring for a loved one is one of the most admirable things you can do for someone you care about. While many family caregivers enjoy and thrive on caring for aging loved ones, falling into the role without preparation can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure what being a family caregiver entails. 

What Is A Family Caregiver?

A family caregiver is anyone who takes care of an aging loved one. The care a family caregiver provides can look different among families. Sometimes, a family caregiver helps with small household tasks like cooking and cleaning. Other times, a family caregiver may be responsible for scheduling doctor’s appointments, running errands, and ensuring the overall safety and wellness of a loved one. 

While family caregivers are full of love and compassion, they’re often not trained or compensated for their work. Many family caregivers also balance caregiving with full-time careers and other family obligations, which can quickly lead to burnout.

Tips For Transitioning Into A Family Caregiver

Before you jump headfirst into caring for a loved one, consider these tips to help you successfully transition into a family caregiver.

• Figure out what your loved one needs help with. Everyone’s aging journey is different; not all individuals require the same level of assistance. Talk to your loved one about what you can do to make things easier for them. 
• Observe your loved one. Talking to a loved one about the help they need is a good place to start, but they might need more assistance than they know. Notice if there are tasks they’re having trouble with or if there are household duties they neglect. 
• Remain compassionate, empathetic, and patient. Not every day will be easy. As a family caregiver, there will be difficult times, but it’s important to remain patient and continue to support your loved one with compassion and empathy.
• Ask for help. When things get overwhelming, don’t try to push through and take care of everything alone. Talk to other loved ones and ask if they can assist you. You might be surprised by who is willing to help.
• Don’t forget to enjoy time with your loved one. It’s easy to get wrapped up in your loved one’s care, but don’t forget to be in the moment and enjoy time with them. Laugh, talk, and have fun as much as possible together. 

Caregiving Assistance From Visiting Angels 

Caring for a loved one is a lot of work, and it’s not something you have to do alone. If you don’t have other family members nearby to assist you with caregiving duties, consider working with a professional caregiver at Visiting Angels. 

Our compassionate caregivers assist family caregivers by providing non medical assistance to aging loved ones. We can help with light housekeeping, appointment transportation, cooking, and medication reminders. Visiting Angels caregivers can also assist with more intimate tasks that may be difficult for loved ones, such as grooming, showering, and dressing. 

Caregivers can provide part-time, full-time, or temporary care to seniors throughout Northeast Ohio. Whatever you need to feel less overwhelmed as a family caregiver, we’re here to help. 

Contact us to schedule a complimentary consultation and start your journey with Visiting Angels.