5 Tips on Boosting Privacy for Care Providers
If family caregivers don’t take steps to boost their privacy, tension is sure to build. Fighting, depression, burnout and more are the result of family caregivers not having enough privacy. Here’s some advice on how family caregivers can get some privacy and avoiding a stressful living environment.
1. Have Your Own Space
It is not uncommon for both the family caregiver and the elderly person to have their own bedroom. Right at the beginning, make it clear that the bedrooms are completely off-limits to each other unless it’s an emergency or a person is invited in. When family caregivers have a quiet place to retreat and separate themselves for whatever activity they want, they will feel more at peace.
2. Make Rules for Shared Spaces
Family caregivers and seniors may have different ideas of house rules in shared spaces and what it takes to work together. For example, the elderly person may want to eat a snack in the TV room while watching their favorite show, while the family caregiver doesn’t really allow food in that room. A good compromise is to set up a television and recliner in the senior’s bedroom space where they can eat freely. Or, they could compromise on what food might be allowed, such as dry snacks.
3. Kitchen Etiquette
The shared space that is most often the source of conflict is in the kitchen. From meal prep to ownership of food and responsibilities of cleanup, there’s a lot of potential conflicts. For example, a family caregiver might find cooking relaxing and doesn’t want their elderly loved one hanging around the kitchen during meal prep, nitpicking and moping because they are bored. They compromise by staying apart until the elderly person is called in for a home-cooked dinner.
4. Schedule Quiet Hours and Alone Time
One of the best things that family caregivers and elderly loved ones can do is to agree on quiet hours or alone time. This could be for an hour after dinner or in the middle of the day for naps and quiet activities. Scheduling dedicated time where each agrees not to bother the other unless it is an emergency can leave both parties refreshed and renewed.
5. Bring In More Help
For family caregivers that need some privacy, there’s a mistaken idea that they have to do it all from morning until night. However, many family caregivers take advantage of their private time when they hire a home care assistant to help the elderly loved one out with daily tasks. There is real value in having private time when elderly loved ones are being attended to by a home care aide. They can help with hygiene, grooming, transportation and more.
If you or an aging family member are considering hiring a care Provider, please contact the caring staff at A Joy Home Care today. (201)941-4900Source:
http://www.nextavenue.org/full-house-guide-surviving-multigenerational-living/
1. Have Your Own Space
It is not uncommon for both the family caregiver and the elderly person to have their own bedroom. Right at the beginning, make it clear that the bedrooms are completely off-limits to each other unless it’s an emergency or a person is invited in. When family caregivers have a quiet place to retreat and separate themselves for whatever activity they want, they will feel more at peace.
2. Make Rules for Shared Spaces
Family caregivers and seniors may have different ideas of house rules in shared spaces and what it takes to work together. For example, the elderly person may want to eat a snack in the TV room while watching their favorite show, while the family caregiver doesn’t really allow food in that room. A good compromise is to set up a television and recliner in the senior’s bedroom space where they can eat freely. Or, they could compromise on what food might be allowed, such as dry snacks.
3. Kitchen Etiquette
The shared space that is most often the source of conflict is in the kitchen. From meal prep to ownership of food and responsibilities of cleanup, there’s a lot of potential conflicts. For example, a family caregiver might find cooking relaxing and doesn’t want their elderly loved one hanging around the kitchen during meal prep, nitpicking and moping because they are bored. They compromise by staying apart until the elderly person is called in for a home-cooked dinner.
4. Schedule Quiet Hours and Alone Time
One of the best things that family caregivers and elderly loved ones can do is to agree on quiet hours or alone time. This could be for an hour after dinner or in the middle of the day for naps and quiet activities. Scheduling dedicated time where each agrees not to bother the other unless it is an emergency can leave both parties refreshed and renewed.
5. Bring In More Help
For family caregivers that need some privacy, there’s a mistaken idea that they have to do it all from morning until night. However, many family caregivers take advantage of their private time when they hire a home care assistant to help the elderly loved one out with daily tasks. There is real value in having private time when elderly loved ones are being attended to by a home care aide. They can help with hygiene, grooming, transportation and more.
If you or an aging family member are considering hiring a care Provider, please contact the caring staff at A Joy Home Care today. (201)941-4900Source:
http://www.nextavenue.org/full-house-guide-surviving-multigenerational-living/