If your parent has become a carer for their spouse, it is important to provide them with support. Being a carer can be a strain on anyone. It becomes their entire life. It can be both emotionally and physically draining. A little bit of support can go a very long way, especially as most people want to stay at home today rather than go into care homes. This is something that has been shown in the No Place Like Home Report, and you can find out more at Live In Care Hub (www.liveincarehub.co.uk). So, with that being said, let’s take a look at some of the different things you can do if you’re wondering how to help a parent that has become their spouse’s carer.
Make sure your parent takes some time to him or herself
The first thing you need to do is make sure that the carer takes some time to themselves. This is one thing that most family carers do not do. They can sometimes feel guilty for even thinking about taking time for themselves. They may feel like they can’t possibly take some time off. Usually, the only time that they ask for help is when they experience a complete burnout and they experience health issues. Of course, you do not want it to get to this stage, and this is why it is important to make sure your parent takes regular breaks and time for themselves. You could provide care at this point or you could look into hiring a respite carer.
Ask, don’t dictate
You should ask if there is anything you can help with. This could be anything from making modifications around the home to doing the grocery shopping. If they never want help, you should try a new approach, for example, say you’re on your way to the shops and wanted to know if they wanted anything picked up – this way they won’t feel like an inconvenience. You should never dictate, always let them keep control.
Help your parents to sort out a budget
One area you can certainly help your parents with is their finances. You need to broach this subject with care, though. After all, your parents have worked hard their entire life for their funds, and so they won’t take kindly to being dictated to. This is why you need to be cautious and careful in your approach. You should put together an expense sheet, which features all of the outgoings so that you can help them to see where savings can be made. You should also help to make sure that your parents are making the most of all of the benefits and government aid that is available to them. \
All in all, there is no denying that caring for someone can be incredibly difficult. With that being said, it is important to provide your parent with the support that they need. Use the advice that has been provided in this blog post as a starting point.