Caring for a senior loved one is a challenging job. Being a full-time caregiver can take a toll on you, causing a drop in the quality of the care you provide. To be the best caregiver you can be, follow these tips.

Respect
Establish a relationship of mutual respect with the senior. Despite their mental and physical needs and/or dependence, they have feelings and needs, and deserve to be treated with respect.

Responsibility
As a full-time caregiver to a senior loved one, be responsible and ensure that they are fed, bathed, and clothed, and given the correct dose of medication on time. Being careless with your responsibilities seriously could jeopardize their health and wellbeing.

Support
Seniors typically require a lot of support in their day-to-day activities, and you may be the only person they can count on. If they do not receive the support they need, their health and wellbeing may suffer.

Care
You need tobe considerate of their mental and physical needs. In addition to their basic needs, show concern for how they are feeling, talk to them, and help them engage in activities they enjoy.

Patience
Watching your loved one struggle to do even the basic tasks can be difficult, and you may feel frustrated to find them unable to do simple things. However, you need to remain patient and allow them to go slow, or they may experience undue stress.

Flexibility
The elderly people may have good and bad days. One day, they may be full of energy, and the next day they may not even feel up to get dressed and eat. As a caregiver, you need to remain flexible to their needs.

Understanding
If you are caring for a senior loved one, you need to understand their specific needs and try to fulfil them. Learn about their condition(s), and try to fully understand how best to help them.

Self-care
When you are a caregiver yourself, you may forget to take care of yourself. Ensure that you take some time on a regular basis to nurture your own physical and mental wellbeing. Whether you like going for a run, to the movies, or taking a relaxing bath, it’s important that you take good care of yourself.

Ask for help
Don’t try to do it all by yourself. Whether you need a family member to help you with housework a few times a week, or a professional caregiver’s services, ask for help rather than struggling alone.

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