Caring for your mom and dad does put a bit of pressure on you. You want to do your best and that means you’re trying to be perfect. Stop striving for perfection. The best care comes when you find the right balance of providing help and knowing when to let your parents do things on their own. Here are the things you should do so that you’re the caregiver your parents need.

Create a Daily To-Do List

Come up with a list of things that have to be done each day. If you have an organized list to follow, you can plan your time accordingly. You should also create lists for tasks that are done every few days, every week, and once a month. The organization is important when it comes to having time for chores and time for fun activities.

Plan for the Unexpected

Even with careful planning, there will be unexpected situations. Don’t let them stress you too much. Instead, go through the to-do list and figure out what you can drop to make up for the lost time.

Some daily items may be less important than you think. You’ve fallen behind because your dad overslept on the day he has a dentist appointment. If your dad doesn’t want to wash his hair, skip it. You save time and avoid an argument.

Stop and Breathe

Even on the busiest of days, stop and take a few deep breaths. That small action can help reduce stress hormones and help you feel more relaxed.

Laugh at Your Mistakes

Instead of becoming overly frustrated or stressed by the mistakes you make during the day, learn to laugh at them. Everyone has moments where things don’t go right. How you handle it makes a difference. Laugh it off and learn from the mistakes that are made.

Respite Care’s Important

Respite care is a service where a professional caregiver steps in while you heal from an illness, take a vacation or have a few hours to yourself. It’s not only important for you to take breaks when needed, but it also helps your parents in terms of socialization. They talk to someone else.

Make sure you are taking time off. You can’t focus so much on your parents that you lose track of yourself. Plan time for self-care by having a team of elderly care aides to take over while you have a few hours to yourself. Call an elderly care agency to set up respite care services.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring a Elder Care in Berkeley, CA, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care.
Call today: (415) 795-2203

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Evan Loevner

CEO at Aviva In-Home Care

As a former hospital administrator, I launched Aviva with the goal of having a more focused, direct impact on the delivery of care than I could ever accomplish within a hospital setting. For me, the joy of running an organization like Aviva In-Home Care is having the ability to positively improve the lives of individuals needing customized care. As a passionate Bay Area resident, I know that many local seniors can benefit from new approaches to in-home care, that will bring them more connection to the community, and provide families with a greater sense of comfort that their loved one is indeed matched with an ideal caregiver.

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