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If you’re a family caregiver, you might have a lot of different concerns on your mind as to how to best care for your aging loved one. And one of those worries might be the awful question of what happens to your elderly parent, spouse, or other loved one if you ever get sick or become unable to perform your caregiving duties.
It’s not an idle concern. You might even find that as a family caregiver, you get sick more often than you used to. According to a study by AARP, 23% of caregivers said that caregiving has made their own health worse.1 As a caregiver’s health gets worse, you become much more vulnerable to viruses, infections, and even injuries.
What if an illness makes you unable to physically care for your loved one? Fortunately, there are ways to ensure that your loved one is well-cared for if this scenario happens. It starts with preparation while you are still well.
Tips for Managing when a Caregiver Becomes Ill
Every caregiving situation is unique. What works best for you might not work well for someone else. There’s always lots of trial and error, but when it comes to creating a game plan for illness, advanced preparation is key. These tips can help.
· Get a medical alert device. Family caregivers deal with a lot of stress, and some of that comes from the times they must be away from their loved ones. Worrying about them can take a significant toll. An emergency alert system from Alert1 can help you avoid that stress by ensuring that they are protected whether you are present with them or not. If they suffer a fall or any other emergency, they can simply press the button for fast help.
· Get vaccinated and boosted. When you are vaccinated, you are not only protecting yourself, but you are protecting everyone around you. This is especially important if you are caring for the elderly, who often have compromised immune systems. Getting your boosters matter too, as they can help ensure that your protection from certain viruses is as robust as possible. Talk to your doctor about which shots you need right now – which might include vaccines against shingles and pneumonia, as well as the more common ones like influenza and COVID – and make sure your loved ones are vaccinated as well. The National Council on Aging offers a wealth of information on the vaccines and boosters recommended for caregivers.2
· Stock up on supplies for you. If you wind up getting ill, the last thing you want to do is head out to the pharmacy to pick up medications and other things you might need. And since everyone gets sick at some point, it makes sense to prepare for that. Choose a small variety of basic medications that can help you get through it, such as Tylenol, advil, pepto, meds to help fight sinus infections, influenza, chest congestion, and more. A heating pad, some canned soups, plenty of tissues, lozenges, and other comfort measures are also a good idea to have on hand.
· Stay up-to-date on medications and appointments. Making sure that your elderly parent or senior spouse is up-to-date on their doctor’s visits and medications can serve you in good stead if you are out of commission with illness for a little while. So fill their medications as soon as it is time to do so. If they have a doctor’s appointment coming up, don’t put it off.
· Create a list of emergency contacts. Look to friends, family members, and even neighbors who could help out in an emergency situation. Speak to them about being on that list so they are not surprised if they ever get a call. Make a point of saying that it’s only for use in the event of a serious emergency, such as you getting sick enough that you can’t take care of your loved one. Let them know the types of help you might need should you find yourself unable to perform your caregiving responsibilities.
· Look into respite care options. Respite care is an opportunity for you to rest while someone else takes over for a while. This can be as simple as a person in the home who sits with your loved one while you sleep, or it could be a trained nurse who comes to your home to deal with medical issues that you would normally handle. No matter the level of respite care, the whole point is to give you a break – and you definitely need a break when you’re sick.
· Research home health care. What if you have an illness that will keep you away from your caregiving duties for a long while? That’s where home health care comes in. Though it can be expensive, hiring someone to take care of your loved one can allow you the relief and rest you need to take care of your own medical needs. Look into the home health care agencies in your area, determine what they might cost for different levels of care, and even get the forms to get started. Keep them in a safe place in case you ever need to use them.
· Get all information in one place. If you become seriously ill, you might need someone to step in while you are away in the hospital. If that happens, it’s vitally important that anyone who takes care of your aging loved one knows everything that matters about their health and day-to-day care. Get a binder and fill it with all important details and documents, such as a list of medications, doctor’s contact information, an updated calendar, a rough outline of the daily routine, dietary requirements, and anything else that is pertinent.
Do Your Best to Avoid Illness and Injury
Of the many ways to avoid illness, washing your hands on a regular basis is one of the top options. It’s easy to do, requires very little in the way of supplies, and effectively washes away bacteria and virus particles that can make you sick. Wash your hands as often as you can and if you can’t, use hand sanitizer.
According to the CDC, well over a third of all family caregivers reported not getting enough sleep.3 And when you don’t get enough sleep, you can face memory issues, difficulty with concentration, a lowered immune response, and even a greater risk of falls. Though you have already (hopefully) chosen the right fall alert for your loved one, have you considered one for yourself? It can come in handy for anyone of any age, and is very helpful if you are sleep-deprived.
Consider your overall health. Not only does your physical health matter, such as getting more sleep and plenty of exercise and a healthy diet, so does your mental health. Almost 18% of caregivers reported feeling physically unhealthy while just over 14% reported feeling mentally unwell during the majority of the past month, per the CDC.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to a friend or family member to vent, and if you need more than that, speak to a professional counselor. Today, counseling is even available “virtually” over the internet. This can help you stay healthy and strong on an emotional and mental level, which can help you think more clearly and handle the challenges of caregiving more effectively.
And finally, make sure everyone in the home is as safe and secure as possible. You can achieve this through a wide variety of aging in place solutions, including medical alert systems for seniors. Whether you choose a medical alert device for your loved one or for yourself (or both), you can be rest assured that fast help is a button press away, 24/7.
