If you notice that a loved one is declining, but you haven\u2019t formally identified their condition, it\u2019s important to seek medical help. You may have noticed that your loved one has become extremely forgetful, has had a complete personality change, or is having difficulty with mobility. A thorough evaluation from a medical professional will identify whether your loved one may have depression<\/a>, nutritional deficiencies<\/a>, reactions to medication, infection, or a neurodegenerative disease<\/a> such as Alzheimer’s disease<\/a>.<\/p>\n
For caregivers, it\u2019s extremely important to communicate with your loved one about a number of things such as their wishes for their finances and health care. They may want to consider the option of appointing an enduring power of attorney<\/a>. You can help them to set up a meeting with a lawyer that specialises in elderly law to discuss their options and if they choose to, draw up relative documents. For some, having a plan in place can make them feel more relaxed as they know they are prepared for the future. If your loved one doesn’t have the capacity to make these decisions or create these documents, you may need to seek further legal advice to find out more about your options.<\/p>\n
At this early stage, it can be beneficial to discuss your loved one\u2019s care with other members of the family and close friends to come together and discuss your loved one’s care. If your loved one is able, they may wish to be included in the discussion too. Having a planned discussion in this way gives you the chance to list tasks that should be carried out so that they can be divided up between everyone that is willing to help. It also allows all parties to discuss how much and what kind of help they can offer, as well as any concerns that they may have.<\/p>\n
There are a number of community organisations that are set up to take some of the strain out of caregiving, such as Meals on Wheels<\/a> and day centres for the elderly<\/a>. Do some research into what is available in your area and the kind of assistance that would be most useful. These resources are in place so that you don’t feel like you have to do everything yourself, and to give you a bit of a break, which can make the time that you spend caregiving easier for both you and your loved one.<\/p>\n
While your time and energy may be taken up with planning care for your loved one, it\u2019s important to make sure that you are looking after yourself. It is common for caregivers to feel isolated as they take on more responsibility in looking after a loved one, and their own social lives are put on hold. A support group can be a great way to meet other people in similar circumstances who understand what you’re going through and can offer considered advice.<\/p>\n
For more information on the content of this article, get in touch with Brain Sparks<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"