AD | Chances are, we’re all going to experience caring for someone at home at some point in our lives. Whether that’s a parent, grandparent or elderly next-door neighbour, the nature of getting older means that some people may require more help who want to stay in their own homes.
And if caring for someone at home is completely new to you, it can certainly be a bit daunting and overwhelming at first. Before you settle into a routine, understand their needs and figure out what help and support they’re entitled to.
It can also be quite taxing on you, the carer. And whilst it’s their needs you’re looking after, you also need to focus on taking care of yourself too. My Mum has recently become a carer for my Granddad, who is being cared for at home. So all of this is very prevalent in my life at the moment.
So if this is something you know you’ll have to deal with soon or someone in your family is, then here are some things to consider when caring for someone at home:
Can you adapt their home for their present needs?
Sometimes peoples conditions and situations change so much that their home might not be entirely compatible with their needs anymore. Taking my Granddad as an example, he can’t get up stairs any more, so we’ve had to adapt his downstairs space for everything he needs.
So there may be new equipment you need to get or a bit of re-arranging that needs doing in order to make their home comfortable and livable for them. This is where you might need to look into alternative ways on how to get equipment, which can often be expensive, so it’s worth checking out articles like this one about how to get a stairlift for free.
Do you know what help and support you or they are entitled to?
Depending on the situation and the condition of the person, you might be entitled to more free help and support than you think you are. It’s always worth speaking to their personal doctor, who should be able to point you in the right direction in terms of support for the patient you’re caring for.
When my Granddad was released from hospital back in May, due to his condition and situation, the state provided everything he needed to adapt back into his own home. Such as a hospital bed, equipment, pressure cushions and more.
Are you able to care for them alone or do you need extra help?
And keeping on the topic of help and support, it’s worth taking stock of whether you’re able to care for them yourself. Or whether you as the carer, need extra help too. For a lot of conditions, you can get state funded carers. However it does depend on a variety of factors, including finance and savings.
Are all healthcare professionals aware of their condition and are they receiving the medical care they need?
Chances are, there may be a fair few medical professionals involved in the case. And it can be hard to keep track sometimes. If you have extra carers, make sure they’re all fully aware of the situation (as a lot of companies may send multiple carers, not necessarily the same 1 or 2 each time).
And is the patient receiving the appropriate medical checks from a district nurse or their doctor on a regular basis? As a carer, you’ll have a lot to think about so it’s also worth keeping a diary or notebook with their upcoming appointments and visits.
Is the patient happy with their carers?
Ultimately, the most important person in this case is the patient or the loved one you’re caring for. If you do have extra help involved, it’s vital to make sure that they are happy with the care they’re receiving and also to report anything to the company that you believe to be suspicious.
Have you ever cared for someone at home? What advice would you give to someone who is just starting to care for someone at home?
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I really like this post! I had a lot of points about it. I have cared for someone myself, but I was in a house where they were caregivers. (If that makes sense) But there are some points that helped them to stay positive. May I share some with you? And you can share them with other people.
I definitely think about this topic a lot as my parents are getting older. My step-mum is insistent she never wants to go into a nursing home as her mum was badly mistreated in one, so caring for someone at home is looking like a real possibility in my future! These tips are really helpful and hopefully, when the time comes, I’ll have a better idea of what needs done.
Beth x Adventure & Anxiety
Oh no I’m sorry to hear that, that’s awful when someone’s had an experience like that. It makes me sick that these places get away with things like that so often – a place people put their relatives because they think it’s the best and safest option.
Very good points. I admire people who use their time looking after another.
This is such an informative and helpful post. You cover so many great points.
https://littlemissmelanie.com/
Thank you x
I’m a carer for my partner and I can total vouch for your advice here – there’s a whole lot to think about and it’s really overwhelming, but you’ve broken it up nicely. My Dad cares for my Nan (and my Grandad before he died) and it’s really opened my eyes to elderly care – there’s actually so much support out there such as floor sensors and tracking devices for people with dementia – stuff you’d never even consider were you not in a caring situation!
Floor sensors? I’ve never even heard of that!
Yeah they’re really good! They can detect if the person has got out of bed at an unusual time, for example, and then send an alert directly to the carer
As my parents get older, I do tend to think about this a lot. These are some good things to keep in mind for the future.
Me too, it’s not nice to think about but certainly important.
This is such a lovely and helpful post!
Rosie
Thank you
This is such a great post Jenny and honestly I can agree with so many of these, when my mum got sick we had to take so many of these into account, thanks for sharing x
Kayleigh Zara 🌿 http://www.kayleighzaraa.com
Thank you x
These are some amazing tips, especially with things at home!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
Thank you
Great tips! I’ve never had to deal with someone in a home but my grandmother is in one if those residential living places? Not sure what they’re called but the residents live in their own flat but are welcome to come down to the main hall for some activities? Anyway, arranging something for her proved very difficult because she wanted to stay home but couldn’t and she was constantly fighting back against the carers and it was all quite an ordeal. We definitely couldn’t have managed it alone! x
Sophie
My Nan lived in one of those when she was alive and it was such a lovely place. But my Granddad had to have carers when he had his heart operation a few years ago and he HATED it.
Thanks for posting this! All these are wonderful tips.
My family are lucky to have a lot of space in our house. When my grandad came to live with, he was unable to go up the stairs after a while, but fortunately we had a study room downstairs that we made into a bedroom area for him, before he passed away.
Now my nan has now come to live with us, and is a bit more able so she’s living on the top floor of our house, which has its own kitchenette, bathroom and bedroom. The only downside is we think she’s developing dementia, so we’ve had to put a stair gate up to keep her from possibly falling down the stairs at night.
My advice when caring for someone is to make a rough schedule of what their routine needs to be. In my experience, they often forget things such as medication, making meals, and even drinking water, so you have to remind yourself to make sure they’re doing all of these every day by keeping an eye, or doing them yourself if they’re less able 🙂
And also don’t forget to spend time with them. If they’re not able to get around the house, you might find you’ve spent a few hours doing your own thing while they’ve been by themselves in that time. My grandad was very content in his own company so just being in the same room reading together was enough for him, whereas my nan is more extraverted and prefers having a long chat over a tea! Everyone’s different though, but even the most introverted of people appreciate social time 🙂
That’s great that you have the space to be able to offer that to your relatives. My Granddad currently has 8 carers every day. As well as my mum, my dad and my uncle and aunt who visit every day too. So he needs a lot of looking after. He’s been more or less on his own for years so it’s a huge change for him.
This is a really great post. I’ve never been in a position to care for somebody at this point in my life, but I definitely never would have thought of all of these points if I had been. Very informative and a great read.
Thank you, glad you thought so.
I remember times as a younger child when everyone in my family would come down with a cold. Even if I was feeling awful, as the oldest child, I felt it right to get up and help my parents look after everyone.
It was not easy and it was tiring but I did it and by and by sunshine came through again. Nothing lasts forever so it is good to remember there is goodness ahead when there might seem to be none. Caring for someone is all about making each day as happy for them as possible.
Absolutely.
this is such a helpful post, year back before my grandpa passed he needed help, I was only about 11 so having him live with us wasn’t possible. He was able to find a great nursing home where he had his own apartment, hospital on the ground floor and a nurse that would come in everyday. It was also nice because it was only about 45 minutes from us, so we could easily visit him whenever we wanted. hope your grandpa is doing well with you guys. xx
mich / simplymich.com
That sounds ideal. Luckily my Granddad is only a 10 minute drive from us.
Luckily I haven’t had to care for anyone but i know people who have and how hard it can be xx
It’s definitely hard.
I’m set to be a carer to my husband, who had a major stroke at the end of last year. We have equipment, but no adaptations as we’re rented. Fortunately he has a social worker who’s insuring all the care and benefits will be in place. It’s still massively stressful, so I urge anyone becoming a carer to find a support group. Having an outlet is vital.
That’s such a great point. Hope everything goes okay.
This is something I can relate to as we look after and care for my granddad! I think it’s great that you are sharing a post we’re it gives people the option to get a stairlift for free!
Ashleigh – http://www.thestoryofashleighdavis.com
Thank you!
These are all awesome tips and things to consider thanks for sharing ! I think it’s also important that you consider how you as a care taker are feeling! Are there any support systems that are there for the people who take care for someone else? I know thee are some in the Netherland, so I’m curious how that is arranged in your country 🙂 thanks for sharing it’s really helpful !
Xoxo Annaleid
http://www.actuallyanna.com
Oh I don’t know – I can imagine there are!
Such a helpful list, I wouldn’t have the first clue of where to start really so I wish more people spoke about things like this xx
Tiffany x http://www.foodandotherloves.co.uk
Thank you!
Luckily I haven’t had to care for anyone at home, but this post is so useful for anyone who is perhaps struggling. My mum used to care for my nan a few years ago now and often found it quite overwhelming! x
Evie x | http://www.eviejayne.co.uk
I can imagine so!
This is a really great post! 😀
I’m actually the one that is cared for and we have had a few adaptations, like a wet room, and support grips. When I was still able to get downstairs, the kitchen was adapted and I was supplied with a perching stool & they made a space under the work surface, so I could perch on the stool & it could be pushed under out of the way when not in use. I can’t get down the stairs now though, so I live in my bedroom, on the bed 24/7. It’s not an easy job being a carer and I have seen how it can become almost as isolating and lonely as it is for me when you care for someone.
Sarah 🌺 || Boxnip || Latest Post
That’s really interesting hearing it from the other point of view. Perhaps a whole post on this would be helpful!
I definitely agree about having a separate notebook/diary for appointments and when medics are due at home etc.. I help my mother to care for my grandparents (between them there’s a mix of medical conditions) and more often than not, we have to refer to my personal diary to triple check those details as we can’t trust what my grandmother has written down.
Another thing I would add is making food accessible, so stocking the fridge and freezer with food that can easily go straight into the oven and be reheated. We batch cook lots of fish pies, cottage pies, sausage casseroles etc because my grandmother can’t stand to cook anymore. We might get the odd complaint if something isn’t to her standard but we’d prefer to take that rather than having to dash to hospital because she’s fallen whilst pottering around too much in the kitchen.
That’s a great point. We keep easy food at my granddads house but he can’t make his own food anymore.
I haven’t but my mum has helped to look after one of our elderly neighbours recently and it’s so much work even with carers coming in x
It sure is. My Granddad has 8 carers on top of my mum and uncle.
I was a nurse for years and saw many people struggle with caring so I would say don’t be afraid to ask for, and accept help!
That’s a great point. We all need to be open to accepting help.
Luckily my grandparents live in a bungalow but getting a ramp put in for the front stairs was such a hassle! This is a great list of things to think about!
Imogen’s Typewriter. <3
Even in bungalows things like that need tending to!