Conflicts happen, and are a normal, healthy part of any relationship; but dealing with them constructively is what helps families prevent estrangement when they do occur. Young or old, family members need to make sure they maintain their important family relationships and remain in each other’s lives by using the following tips.

• Apologize – whether or not you feel you were wrong, apologize for the role you played in the conflict

• Be Sympathetic – let your relative provide their perspective, and remain objective and sympathetic to their feelings

• Put Yourself in Their Shoes – discussions will go more cordially if you treat them the way you, yourself would like to be treated. Listen to what they have to say, and be respectful

• Forgive – often people say they forgive each other, only to bring up the conflict again later down the road; once you say you’ve forgiven your loved one, really make the effort to let it go

• Seek Help – if you really can’t get past the problem, consider using a professional mediator to help you work through the problem with your family

• Stay in Touch – even after the conflict has been resolved, make the effort to remain in each other’s lives.

Call each other, if not regularly, at least on holidays and special occasions; send photos of yourself with your family; and keep them informed about the important milestones and events taking place in your life.

There’s no denying that family caregivers have a tough job. Managing life with caregiving can be a difficult balance to attain. You may feel as though you are obligated to care for your aging loved one forever since you have committed to care for them for a time, however, sometimes it’s just better to let someone else take over. You need to consider a number of factors, relating to the health of the senior, your relationships and your lifestyle. Take a look at the following points below, to learn why caregivers step down and it if might be time for you to do the same.

Health

• The caregiver is beginning to feel under qualified in their caregiving duties, since the senior’s medical needs are growing
• The caregiver feels overwhelmed by all the responsibilities and is having problems keeping up with the demands; the senior may not be fed on a regular schedule, changed when required, or brought medications on time
• The overall condition of the household has declined since the caregiver started taking responsibility

Relationships

• The caregiver and care recipient have had problems with adjusting to their role changes. For example, an adult child providing care for a mother may find that her mother cannot accept that she is now under her daughter’s care.
• The relationship between caregiver and care recipient is becoming tense
• The caregiver may feel like he/she has lost the family relationship with the senior he/she once had; it could feel more like a business relationship than a family bond
• The caregiver’s relationship with other family members, like a spouse or children have been impacted negatively by the caregiving responsibilities

Lifestyle

• The caregiver can no longer find time for his/herself
• He/she has no opportunity to relieve stress or relax doing enjoyable activities
• The caregiver is unable to accomplish goals and dreams because of the overwhelming responsibilities
• The caregiver is becoming resentful or blames the senior for the drastic lifestyle changes

Home Instead Senior Care Austin - Providing the most trusted elder home health in America! Call us today at (512) 347-9207.

Home Instead Senior Care in Austin helps families cope with Caregiver Stress. Please call us at 512-347-9207 when seeking non-medical, companionship, and professional caregvers in Austin.

Caregiver Stress-Stress and spousal caregiving

Naturally, you wouldn’t think twice about caring for your partner now that they are in a situation where there’s a growing need for your assistance. Whether it is a chronic health problem, issues with mobility or decreased cognitive function, your support will likely be necessary.

Sometimes caring for a spouse can leave the family caregiver feeling overwhelmed and stressed. This can be compounded if the caregiver is also taking over responsibilities that were once handled solely by their ailing spouse, from cooking and doing laundry, to balancing the checkbook and heading up the financial decisions.

Signs that Spousal Caregiving May Be Becoming Too Risky for You:

* Missing or delaying your own doctor appointments

* Ignoring your own health problems or symptoms

* Not eating a healthy diet

* Overusing tobacco and alcohol 

* Giving up exercise habits 

* Losing sleep

* Losing connections with friends 

* Bottling up feelings of anger and frustration and then being surprised by angry, even violent, outbursts directed at your spouse, other family members, co-workers - even strangers

* Feeling sad, down, depressed or hopeless

* Loss of energy

* Lacking interest in things that used to give you pleasure

* Feeling resentful toward your spouse

* Blaming your spouse for the situation

* Feeling that people ask more of you than they should

* Feeling like caregiving has affected family relationships in a negative way

* Feeling annoyed by other family members who don’t help out or who criticize your care

Reaching out and asking for help is a very healthy thing to do if you are feeling overwhelmed. Look into hiring a part time caregiver to come in and help. Take back “you” again. It’s important.

Home Instead Senior Care Austin gives respite to caregiver.

Caregiver Physical Stress in Austin.

It’s one thing to look at yourself and say, “Okay, I am really stressed out!” But, when you start to feel the signs of stress physically, it is best to deal with it, and get medical help if needed.

You might be wondering, what IS physical stress? Well, here are some signs that can let you know if you are experiencing it:

Physical Signs of Caregiver Stress:

* Disturbed Sleep
* Back, shoulder or neck pain, muscle tension
* Headaches
* Stomach/digestive problems (upset or acid stomach, cramps, heartburn, gas, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea)
* Weight fluctuation (gain or loss)
* Loss of hair
* Fatigue
* High blood pressure, irregular heart beat, palpitations
* Chest pain
* Perspiration
* Skin disorders (hives, eczema, psoriasis, tics, itching)
* Periodontal disease, jaw pain
* Reproductive problems/infertility
* Weakened immune system suppression: more colds, flu, infections
* Sexual dysfunction/lack of libido

If you are experiencing some of the signs listed above, consider talking with a healthcare professional who can help you to evaluate your situation. Recognizing stress is the first step to taking care of the problem, and taking care of you. Your physical health is number one priority when caring for a loved one.

HELP WITH ALZHEIMER’S CARE in AUSTIN - Call (512) 347-9207.

As a geriatric nurse, I have seen first hand how much stress can be incurred when caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, especially when 87% are family caregivers who have families, careers, and other responsibilities. With such a large number of people in United States and North America (approximately 5 million across the continent), it is no surprise that these caregivers need help.

Services, such as those provided by Home Instead Senior Care can fill in the gaps and give family caregivers a break, or even provide full-time caregiving services. HISC provides non-medical in-home services from well-trained and educated CAREGivers; they undergo a multi-faceted safety and caregiving education program which features a progressive curriculum.

 They are trained and tested on case studies, senior illness information, tips for coping with stress and learn stimulating activities for seniors and nutritional recipes. There are also training programs specifically geared towards Alzheimer’s care, so individuals can ensure that their loved ones are safe, happy and healthy in their absence.

The “Financial Steps for Caregivers: What you need to know about money and retirement, ”According to the booklet, caregiving often results in financial costs for the caregiver, some of which include decisions to work part-time; decline a promotion requiring longer hours; or pass up a training opportunity requiring travel. To download the booklet http://www.aoa.gov/prof/aoaprog/caregiver/caregiver.asp.

Other more subtle consequences include lost opportunities for compounded returns on 401(k) matching contributions, a reduction in savings and investments, or an inability to finance home improvements that could increase the resale value of a residence.  One study from the National Center on Women & Aging found that caregivers lose $659,130 over a lifetime in reduced salary and retirement benefits.

There may be options that could keep your daughter from giving up her career.  If you have other family members, discuss with them how they might help.  Oftentimes the caregiving job falls to one adult child when others could shoulder some of the responsibility.

Also consider a company like Home Instead Senior Care Austin.  Our CAREGivers could provide respite care for your daughter while making sure all your needs are met.  Hours are flexible, too – from three hours a week to 24 hours a day.  If you just need a little help, that’s all that you will have to budget for your care.  Not only will you be helping your daughter, but you’ll be making new friends as well.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care call 512-347-9207.

Family Caregivers Should Organize Financial Plan

Many family caregivers are called to help out their aging parents. Most do the caring after work and during the evenings.  But several family members tell us they are thinking about quitting their full-time job in order to more available for their elder. Typically, their own immediate family needs her or his income and caring  puts a strain on their budget.  Before you quit your job to provide full-time care for you aging relative, here’s some advice we give our families.

Our advice is taken from the National Family Caregiver Support Program resource room at http://www.aoa.gov/prof/aoaprog/caregiver/caregiver.asp. It is called, “Financial Steps for Caregivers: What you need to know about money and retirement,” is a booklet prepared under a grant from the Administration on Aging and distributed in partnership with the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (N4A).

Please refer to this weblink prior to giving your notice to leave your job. This booklet, which will provide valuable information to help you and your family make decisions about the best way to proceed.  

Home Care Austin  (512) 535-6194

It’s usually a crisis that begins family conversations. Families with seniors who have emerging needs, those not yet facing more serious age-related problems, are sometimes reluctant to seek help; communication is often the barrier.

Here are more suggestions from the Communication Expert Jake Harwood, Ph.D. at the University of Arizona:

5) Maximize independence

Always try to move toward solutions that provide the maximum amount of independence for a parent or senior loved one. Look for answers that optimize strengths and compensate for problems.

6) Stay tuned in

If, for example, your dad dies and soon afterward your mom’s house seems to be in disarray, it’s probably not because she suddenly became ill. Rather, it’s much more likely to stem from a lack of social support and the loss of a life-long relationship. Make sure that your mom has friends and a social life.

7) Ask for help

Many of the issues of aging can be solved by providing parents with the support they need to help them maintain their independence. Resources such as Home Instead Senior Care, Area Agencies on Aging and local senior centers can help provide those solutions.

The 40-70 Rule Guide features communication tips, as well as role-playing situations that can help family caregivers know what to say and when. For a free copy of the guide, just contact your local Home Instead Senior Care franchise office or download a PDF of the guide from the 40/70 Talk web site.

If your aging parent(s) needs home care help, please call Home Instead Senior Care at (512) 347-9207.

It’s usually a crisis that begins family conversations. Families with seniors who have emerging needs, those not yet facing more serious age-related problems, are sometimes reluctant to seek help; communication is often the barrier.

Here are some suggestions from Home Instead Senior Care and University of Arizona Communication Expert Jake Harwood, Ph.D.:

1) Get started

If you’re 40 or your parents are 70, it’s time to start observing the situation and gathering information carefully and thoughtfully. Talk with your parents (see the next tip, below), and gather information with an open mind. Until you’ve done so, don’t reach any conclusions or try to decide on potential solutions.

2) Talk it out

Approach your parents with ideas for a conversation. Discuss what you’ve observed and ask your parents what they think is going on.

3) Sooner is best

Talk sooner, rather than later. Don’t wait for a crisis to occur. For instance, if you know your loved one has poor eyesight or has trouble driving at night, then begin addressing those issues before a problem arises. However, while sooner is better, it’s never too late to start.

4) Forget the baby talk

Remember that you’re talking to adults, not children. Patronizing speech or baby talk will put older adults on the defensive and convey a lack of respect for them. Put yourself in your parent’s shoes and think how you would want to be addressed.

FAMILY CAREGIVING FACTS AND TIPS

If you are a family caregiver and you’re elder lives in Austin, you may have a few questions about proper care for an aging relative. Please send your question to Catherine Kohl, our elder care expert at Home Instead Senior Care Austin - HISC.Kohl@Yahoo.com. Or call us at 512-347-9207.

Caregiving Facts and Statistics

• Seniors’ adult children often act as their caregivers
• The ‘sandwich generation’ – adult children caring for their parents as well as their own young families
• 72% of family caregivers have no help
• By 2030, 70 million Americans (20% of the population) will be over 65
• Spouses make up almost half of family caregivers in the United States
• 31% of family caregivers would like more help
• 25% of family caregivers resent family members who aren’t heavily involved

Keeping Seniors Safe at Home

• Keep the environment clean and uncluttered to avoid tripping and falling
• Consider what objects may pose a hazard and remove them, such as burning matches, cigarettes, candles, electrical cords, throw rugs etc.
• Keep dangerous items locked up or out of reach including chemicals and cleaning supplies, medications, poisonous houseplants and anything that can be swallowed
• Ensure there is adequate lighting for when a senior gets up during the night (install nightlights in hallways and ensure light switches are conveniently located)
• Use guardrails on bed and install grab bars and non-slip tape in bathroom tubs and showers