When a loved one develops a serious illness or has a disability most families will rally around and support them. This means helping them maintain as much independence as possible, providing financial help if needed, and even physically caring for them.
It can be very demanding, especially if you are already dealing with a hectic work schedule and perhaps children.
That’s why it’s important to share the responsibilities with other family members. It’s easier than you think.
Create A Break
Caring for a loved one should not mean you give up on who you are. Before you start caregiving you need to locate a local NDIS provider Sydney that can help. This provides you with a place where your loved one can visit, gain independence, and even learn new skills.
Of equal importance is the fact this gives you a break and allows you to recover mentally and physically from caregiving duties. It is important to look after yourself when caring for someone else.
Have A Family Meeting
Every member of your family is probably busy but this is a time when you need to rally together and help each other by sharing the responsibility of caring for your loved one.
This starts by calling a family meeting. You’ll need an agenda to ensure everything is covered. It’s best to start with what care your loved one needs. Be detailed about the duties and the time involved. It’s unique for every situation.
Each family member can then agree on what time they can offer and what duties they can deal with. Approaching it in this way ensures everyone is doing their part and feels involved. It also stops one person from doing everything and later suffering from resentment, causing family conflicts.
Regular Updates
Caring for a loved one means accepting that the circumstances will change. You may need specialist equipment as they get worse, or even better. It’s important to have regular family meetings to discuss changing needs and even how they will be funded.
Alongside this, regular family meetings allow individuals to express concerns, suggest alternatives, and even swap duties.
Remember, caring for a loved one should be a pleasure, not feel like a chore. Make sure that everyone has a chance to share and that all opinions are properly discussed during the family meetings.
Don’t Forget Friends
If your loved one had a good circle of friends then don’t forget to include them in the caring duties. They may simply want to visit periodically or they may want to be more involved. Including them lightens the load on everyone and can even help your loved one improve or simply enjoy their quality of life more.
Remember, caring for a loved one is emotionally draining. That’s why you need as much help as possible and always give yourself personal time. If you get run down and ill you won’t be able to look after a loved one, protect yourself first by using your family to help care for your loved one. It’s better for everyone involved.