Top Tips to Help Family Caregivers Be Better Senior Advocates

Trusting someone you love into the care of somebody else is never easy, particularly for a senior member of the family. Whether at home or in a care facility, you’ll have questions you need answered. You’ll also want to be ready to advocate for the senior to proactively address any potential problems and also to immediately resolve problems that do develop.

For example, examine the following common situations and learn how senior advocates effectively manage them:

• You are concerned about challenging behaviors. If the older adult is susceptible to aggression, wandering, angry outbursts, hoarding, or any one of an array of other difficult behaviors, you could feel embarrassed or ashamed. Though you may prefer not to talk about the issue, it is best to share this openly with the care provider. More likely than not, they will have experience with successfully dealing with a wide range of personalities and personal nuances, and will be able to incorporate strategies that will work best with your family member.
• Your loved one has Alzheimer’s. A loved one with Alzheimer’s may not be able to effectively communicate their needs and wishes. For example, a new caregiver might not know that Dad wears inserts in his shoes and she may put his shoes on each morning without them. Dad might not know how to communicate this need or could have forgotten about this need and start to become uncomfortable that day. Or he may act out because he is experiencing discomfort, that could result in other issues. As the older adult’s voice, make certain to share even the smallest details about the person’s preferences with the care provider.
• You live at a distance. Thanks to technology, it’s easier than ever to stay close to a long-distance relative and to keep a finger on the pulse of how things are going. FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype with the senior frequently to check in. If a family portal is available for the care provider and family members to share notes and comments, take advantage of this communication tool. And if you’re not able to visit in person, ask a friend or other family member who lives nearby to stop in routinely.

CareWorks Health Services partners with families, working together to ensure the best quality of care and life for older adults, through personalized services such as:

• Meal planning and preparation
• Companionship for fun conversations and activities
• Personal care for safe baths/showers, getting dressed, etc.
• Running errands
• Transportation and accompaniment
• Light housekeeping and laundry
• And more

To learn more about our award-winning senior care in Laguna Woods and the surrounding communities, email or call us at (949) 859-4700 to schedule a free in-home consultation. We’d be honored to develop a care plan to best meet the needs of a senior you love.