Organized Care

It's always nice to be given a new beginning! We have all made mistakes and the prospects of a new year provides an initiative for us to begin anew. As caregivers, we manage our own affairs in addition to that of our loved ones. If we are not organized by nature, things can quickly become lost and in a state of disarray. In order to better equip ourselves to manage adequate care for our loved ones and still look to our own needs, it makes perfect sense to establish a do-able game plan and acquire the means to help us maintain some organization.  

Let us begin by evaluating some key areas when it comes to care-giving. We need to take a close look at our own lives as well as those of our loved ones that we are providing care for. We will start by examining our own lives first. We'll do this by making a list. Title the first column as shown below in the sample, then proceed to list your daily/weekly responsibilities, etc.

My Commitments and Responsibilities Within My Home

1. Meal preparation and planning - Daily
2. Laundry and clothes - Weekly

Continue to list obligations and chores in this fashion.

You will be surprised how much more smoothly your day will unfold when you take the time to write everything down. It's far too easy to forget things when it pertains to ourselves and our own lives in general. We tend to get so caught up in the lives of those we are caring for that we forget we can't do an adequate job of caring if our own lives are out of order.

After considering and re-evaluating our own personal responsibilities, it's wise and imperative to solicit help and advice from trusted family members and/or close friends. Remember, you can't do it all alone. Those who the Lord has called upon to provide care for others tend to be very compassionate and caring people. This is such a blessing, but it can also wear down the well meaning caregiver when it comes to taking proper care of themselves. When caring for another, there will always arise situations that none of us plan for.
 
I'm  going to create a hypothetical situation to better explain the importance of sharing your responsibility as sole caregiver with a trusted family member. Let's say, for example, you are caring for your grandmother and the schedule you have employed thus far runs like clockwork. However, for an unexplained reason, grandma has a sudden drop in blood pressure and is running a temperature. In emergency situations like this, it's sometimes hard to know what to do. Should you call for help or visit the emergency room? Is this temporary? Was a particular food eaten that may have caused a slight drop in blood pressure? If we, as caregivers, have chosen a trusted family member to confide in, it will greatly reduce unneeded stress and panic when emergency situations like these arise. We can discuss our concerns and fears with someone close in whom we can trust. 

Be very prayerful when considering a confidant. The last thing we want to do is provide an avenue for gossip. Sadly, there are many (even among our closest family and friends) with open and itching ears who are willing to listen as we pour out our hearts. Yet these same people would all too quickly share these things with those who would have no business knowing intimate details of not only our lives as the caregiver, but that of the person we are caring for. We must respect their privacy, whether it is our own grandparent or another we are caring for.

Another helpful tip I would like to share that can help your loved one (particularly if they are elderly) would be the creation of a chart or a log to help them keep track of medications, vitamin supplements, meals, snacks, and even their favorite television shows. It would benefit them in many, many ways! They will feel that they are actively playing an important role in their own care. A personal weekly chart or log created just for them will assist them in remembering what day of the week it is. It will also give them a sense of knowing what to expect in addition to what is coming up in the next few hours or days ahead. This will also assist YOU, the caregiver, greatly!

Finally, take care of yourself so that you will be fully equipped to care for those who depend on you! Eat a well balanced diet and be certain to get plenty of rest. Remember Jesus' reply when asked what is the greatest of all commandments:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:30-31 NIV)