Develop A Caregiver Plan That Is Flexible
It is always smart to have a plan, and having a daily routine can bring order to your life. A plan can make life less hectic and help you to achieve goals and accomplish tasks. But having a rigid caregiving plan that has no wiggle room is a plan for stress, frustration and injury.
It would be foolish to say that you don’t need a daily plan. You do need a daily plan — plan A, plan B and even plan C. Having a plan to fit the need is sensible and identifying your plan for today is essential.
1. Plan A: Best Day Ever Plan
This plan takes into account the skills your loved one consistently demonstrates on a daily basic and your ability to easily assist where needed.
When helping them with those daily care tasks (ADLs), you know what areas are challenging for them and you know how much help they need. You have developed a plan that allows them to complete tasks safely and you have learned how to assist them without injury to yourself or allowing them to injury themselves. You are working together as a team. You are both doing what you are safely capable of doing.
The point here is that they do their best and you learn how to safely do only what is needed. If you are struggling to learn how to help with a task, seek help. Therapy is an option to explore. And you does not mean always mean “YOU”, it means the team of support that can partner with you —family, friends, hires.
Don’t we wish all days were like this…it would be a dream come true!
2. Plan C: Worse Day Ever, Can’t Wait Until The Day Is Over. (We’ll Get Back to Plan B)
This plan takes into account that they are still breathing and you do not need to call 911 but they are not able to help much or you are not able to provide the help needed due to extreme injury or illness!
Your loved one verbalizes, indicates or you are getting a hint that they can not do the tasks that they are typically able to do. Or maybe it is you. Someone is having a “bad day” —having pain or confusion or just not at their best. Have a Plan C for these days. Abandon Plan A.
Plan C can include additional safety equipment: Gait Belts, Hoyer Lifts, Wheelchairs and an alternate caregiver who can come and assist with care. Always have Plan C on standby. Have equipment in the home on standby. Never refuse to get equipment that can be included in a backup plan.
When working Plan C, you must not put unreasonable physical demands on your loved one or on yourself. You must only do and expect the minimal. Ensure that meals and toileting needs are addressed with the minimal physical stress. Pray and hope that tomorrow brings a better day. Seek medical attention if needed. Please know you have your limits, just like they do. You must value your health and safety as much as you value theirs. No guilt!
3. Plan B: Our Reality Day
This is the plan that most caregivers should enforce daily. “Best Day Ever” and “Worse Day Ever” are few and far between. Most of us hang out in the Plan B arena.
This plan accounts for that middle ground. No one day is an all A Plan or C Plan day. Plan B is actually a combination of both. The ability to blend both Plan A and C is wisdom. Knowing how to combine them both, and enforce portions of both during the course of any day is a skill that caregivers must learn. Learn to listen to your body and only do what it allows you to do, do not repeatedly do things throughout the day that put you at risk for injury. Use safety equipment and insist that your loved one do their part in caring for themselves. Set boundaries, put safety measures in place that allows them to function at their max capabilities while minimizing stress and injury to yourself.
Sounds like a plan? Get started on your flexible plan today. If you need help, or have questions, contact Finding A Foothold for assistance.
Consuela Marshall, Occupational Therapist
Today’s blog is inspired by a caregiver question to the call-in line of Caregivers Finding A Foothold podcast. To hear questions and other challenges from caregivers in our community, please check out the website FindingAFoothold.com, Episode 12: Develop A Caregiving Plan That Is Flexible.
If you have a question, please call and allow this community to share hope and tips you can use. Your question may inspire our next blog! Please subscribe to the Caregivers Finding A Foothold podcast. Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Instagram.
Disclaimer: The podcast and blog are intended to provide basic information so that you can become a more informed caregiver. The information presented is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not meant to serve as medical advice or replace consultation with any health care providers you regularly engage with. Transmission or receipt of any of this information is not intended to, and does not, create a therapist-patient relationship. This information is not provided in the course of a therapist-patient relationship and is not intended to constitute medical advice or to substitute for obtaining medical advice from a physician or therapist licensed in the state where your family may reside. We encourage everyone to consult with your physician or therapist to see if they are appropriate and safe for you.