As a family caregiver, you no doubt come across challenges that sometimes stump you. Or, you may just want to know how to make certain common tasks go more quickly so that you can perhaps have a few moments to yourself. The good news is that caregivers all over the world have shared their hacks on the Internet and we’ve gathered 5 of the best ones below.
#1: Pick a Day for Meal Prep
Instead of making dinner for your older family member every night of the week, you may find it more time effective to pick a single day of the week and spend it cooking meals that can be heated up later. That can also save time on grocery shopping since you can plan all the meals and shop for them at one time instead of making multiple trips to the store. Since you can be working on another meal while the first one cooks, making multiple meals can also cut total cooking time.
#2: Simplify the Remote
Some older adults have difficulty using complicated television remotes that look more like the controls for a spaceship than for the TV. That can mean caregivers making multiple trips into the living room to fix the television or explain the remote for the umpteenth time. To make the remote easier for your aging relative, use tape to cover up the buttons they don’t need to use. Label the power, volume, and channel buttons by writing on the tape surrounding them.
#3: Make Your Own Icepacks
If your aging relative uses icepacks to ease joint pain, you can save money and always have an icepack on hand by making your own. Mix one part rubbing alcohol with three parts water. Put the mixture in a sealable plastic bag and put it in the freezer. The result will be a flexible icepack that will conform around the senior’s joint.
#4: Prevent Accidental Locking
Doors that lock can be a problem for caregivers of seniors with dementia. The older adult can accidentally lock themselves in a room, which can be dangerous. To prevent accidental locking, cut a pool noodle in half and slip it over the top of the door. As an added bonus, it will also keep the older adult from pinching their fingers in the door.
#5: Use Lighting for Nighttime Safety
Older adults who get up during the night risk falling if they cannot see where they are going. To prevent a fall, put nightlights in the hallway. Use the ones that are sensitive to light or motion, so they automatically turn on. You may also want to put glow in the dark tape along the edges of stairs or run rope lighting along the hallway.
If you or an aging loved one are considering caregivers in Sugarhouse, UT, contact the caring staff at Interim Healthcare. Call today 801-401-3515.
Author: Michael and Marlena Hawkins, Owners, Interim HealthCare, Salt Lake City, UT
Interim HealthCare of Salt Lake City has been in business since February 2014, providing in-home personal care and support services that help our elderly and/or disabled neighbors live enriched, safe and independent lives. Our goal is to provide customized care and support services that make it possible for our clients to remain in the comfort of their own homes rather than relocate to an assisted living facility. Interim HealthCare is family owned by Michael and Marlana Hawkins, and is a Veteran Owned Small Business.
