Tips for Caregiving in Difficult Relationships
The world would be a nicer place if all our relationships were easy ones. Unfortunately, that’s just not the case—even within our own families. In fact, familial relationships are sometimes the toughest and most complicated ones to deal with. So, what happens when you find yourself pressed into service as a caregiver for a family member with whom you have a strained relationship? The emotions of the situation can be confusing and hard to navigate, but here are some tips to help you through.
Elder Care in Fairfax County VA: Tips for Caregiving
Decide If You Can Be a Caregiver
In cases where a relationship was abusive, it may be better for a person to decline to be a caregiver. If you believe being a caregiver to an older adult will cause you emotional or physical harm, it could be best for you to refuse regardless of your moral convictions. Instead, consider hiring a professional home care provider.
Define Why It’s Important for You to Offer Care
Don’t feel like you have to fake the warm, loving feelings that may lead other people to be caregivers. It’s okay to be honest with yourself about why you are acting as a caregiver to someone who perhaps wasn’t always there for you. For some people, the reason lies in their morals and values. They provide care because it is the right thing to do. They may also attribute their need to care for their spiritual values, stating that taking care of people in need is what God wants them to do.
Change Your Perspective
Psychology experts recommend that adult children examine what may cause their aging parent to snap or lash out. In some cases, the parent is just as emotionally dependent on their child as the child is on them. In such cases, it can help adult children to step back and see how much their parent relies on them and help them to develop a sense of compassion.
Set Boundaries
It’s a good idea to think about what you will and will not do before you enter into a relationship such as a caregiver. Set your time limits and the boundaries of the tasks you will perform. Then, stick to them. Home care can fill in the gaps in caregiving, such as filling in time slots on the care calendar or performing tasks that are uncomfortable for the family caregiver, such as bathing.
Practice Detachment
Professional health care providers sometimes talk about having to look at their clients in a neutral way. It allows them to perform the required care tasks without allowing the things the client says to get under their skin. Although family caregivers shouldn’t expect to be able to completely detach, even being able to do so once in a while may make life a little easier.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Elder Care in Fairfax County, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care. Call Us Today at (703) 634-9991.
Sources
https://thecaregiverspace.org/
https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/
https://www.psychologytoday.com
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