For so many family caregivers, the story is familiar. “I don’t know where to turn for help.” Or, “I’m exhausted. I don’t think I can do this on my own anymore.” Or, “There has to be a better way to care for my loved one.”
These are the words of an untold number of family caregivers who are struggling to provide care and support for loved ones, while at the same time maintaining some balance in their own lives. The good news is there is somewhere to turn for help. You don’t have to do it alone. There’s a way to ensure the independence and safety of your loved ones while still having time for a job, a home, the rest of your family – and yourself.
Home care is an answer many family caregivers are pleasantly surprised to discover. And when they find out the depth of the home care resource, they often say, “I didn’t know home care could do all of that!”
As we continue to observe National Family Caregivers Awareness Month, here are 50 surprising ways non-medical home care can be there for you and your loved ones.
- Accompaniment to doctor’s visits and other appointments
- Advice and support for family caregivers
- Assistance with air travel including airport check-in, ticketing, security/customs and luggage management
- Assistance with ground transportation for vacations and trips
- Bathing and personal hygiene assistance
- Care while family caregivers take a respite break
- Comfort and company during life transitions, such as after a move or loss of a loved one
- Company, conversation and companionship through regular visits and activities
- Continence and toileting care
- Dog walking
- Dressing assistance
- Eating and feeding assistance
- Engagement and cognition exercises for older adults with dementia
- Establishing and maintaining routines
- Game playing
- Gift wrapping
- Giving great hugs and support
- Grocery shopping
- Hair styling
- Home organization
- Laughing and smile making
- Letter writing and correspondence
- Light housekeeping and chores
- Listening to stories
- Local transportation to recreation, errands, social visits and more
- Meal preparation, including special diets
- Medication reminders
- Memory making
- Ongoing dementia care
- Oral hygiene assistance for mouths, gums and dentures
- Personal mobility and walking assistance
- Pet care assistance
- Physical activities for help staying active
- Picture taking
- Planning and facilitating activities, recreation and hobbies
- Post-meal clean-up
- Post-operative support and assistance
- Prescription pick up
- Providing support, relief and peace of mind
- Safety checks during inclement weather
- Meal sharing
- Reinforcing moms when settling in with a new baby
- Sharing jokes
- Stair climbing assistance
- Support during home maintenance visits
- Symptom checking, monitoring and reporting to prevent hospital readmissions
- Teaming up to help busy moms balance work, home and play
- Transferring and posture support
- Trash removal
- Washing, drying, folding and/or ironing laundry
How Has Home Care Been There for You?
In many ways, the support home care can provide is limited only by the imagination. If you’re a family caregiver, we’d love to hear about how home care has supported you in your caregiving journey. And how else it may be able to help family caregivers maintain balance in their lives. What were you surprised to learn home care could do? Share your stories and ideas in the comments!
Imagine How FirstLight Can Support You
Need support providing care for a loved one, but don’t know where to turn? FirstLight can help. Imagine all of the ways a little extra assistance could help your loved one – and simplify your caregiving journey. And then call FirstLight. Let’s talk about how we can help you. Find a location near you today.