Mom Wants More Help Than She Needs
Mom Wants More Help Than She Needs
Who doesn’t mind being waited on? —having someone bring you everything you need and helping you to do things. We all like a little pampering, sitting back and relaxing while someone else does the work for us. This is good every now and then, especially if we are having a rough day.
This is often the case when a loved one is discharged from the hospital or is recovering from an illness. They are often with weakness and just can’t do things in the same manner that they did them before the hospitalization or illness occurred. Caregivers must step in and provide the help needed until they recover, with the amount of help decreasing as the loved one gains strength.
As a caregiver, you must guard against doing too much, when you continue to provide more help than is needed, this can lead to a dependence upon you to do tasks that your loved one can do for themselves. They then become weaker and you wear yourself out. Take these steps to increase your loved one’s participation in tasks.
Five Steps To Use To Prevent Doing Things Your Loved One Can Do Themselves.
Take assessment of what your loved one can do for themselves. Look at their balance, look at how they can move their limbs, take note of any shortness of breath when they are doing tasks.
Setup the environment to make sure everything they would need is within reach and the area is free of fall risks.
Allow them to do portions of tasks that they can safely do. Stand close by and observe them when they are standing. Watch them do tasks several times to make sure you have identified any concerns.
Make the environment safe by adding grab bars, having proper chairs with armrests for them to sit on.
Slowly back away and allow them to do all the things that they can safely do.
Bottom Line:
Find ways of making them more responsible for their own care so you can work less! When you do too much, they become accustomed to it and they stop trying to do learn to do more. But when you take note of what they are able to do, encourage them, then setup the environment so that they can do more for themselves, you are helping to strengthen them and creating time for you to take a break.
For help learning how to develop an efficient and safe caregiving plan, which allow you to structure your day where you are providing the needed care, while also setting boundaries and incorporating self-care, schedule a free consult with me.
Consuela Marshall, Occupational Therapist, Caregiver Coach
Listen to the Caregiver’s Finding A Foothold Episode 34: Mom Wants More Help Than She Needs. The podcast is available on the FindingAFoothold.com website and on all major podcast streaming sites.
Visit FindingAFoothold.com. Call the call-in line to tell your caregiving challenge and receive a free response to your struggle on an upcoming podcast show. The call in button is located on the website.
Visit the consult page of the website, find out how to schedule a free 30 minute consult to discuss in more depth your caregiving challenge and learn how to receive help developing a caregiving plan specific for your needs.
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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.