Time constraints can challenge compassionate caregiving.
Many caregivers in America are strapped for time and margin, making it challenging to be a compassionate caregiver! Almost 20 percent of adults in America are caregivers for another adult with health needs, with around 60% percent of those adults also juggling a job. (AARP, 2020) From decades in health care helping families and seniors, I have seen the added time it takes to provide care for a loved one. Likewise walking with my own parents and in laws through this time has been enlightening to the challenge of providing difficult care with compassion. Working with patients and families in their own homes has allowed me to help them develop plans and techniques for saving time, reducing stress, and having margin to provide compassionate care. When your calendar is full, little tips can make a big difference, leading to greater efficiency and more peace!
Margin in your life can help you manage difficult situations with greater grace and compassion.
Plan your caregiving with compassion.
Planning for margin in life is helpful for everyone, but especially for those who are busy and challenged with caring for someone. Making a schedule, planning ahead and asking for help are imperative to making it work. Allow your compassion as a caregiver to consider the loved one’s preferences and needs when setting a schedule as much as possible. Planning out scheduled appointments considering weather and time of year, best time of day for appointments, and energy requirements from the specific activity can help. Likewise alternating a difficult or stressful task with an easy or enjoyable task can maximize productivity. Who doesn’t get motivated by a drive through coffee after a Dr. appointment? Consider time for devotion, prayer, community and encouragement for your loved one’s schedule.
Prepare your own heart for the task of caregiving with compassion.
Caregiving can be overwhelming. Just as you are considerate of the client, knowing your own limits as a caregiver is necessary as well. Planning for time to destress, and asking for help ahead of time with difficult tasks can reduce negative interactions, resentment and anger. Using the caregiving schedule to support your own needs can minimize caregiver burnout. Community groups, churches and caregiving groups can be great for providing online, large group or one on one support for caregivers. Music, prayer, scripture and a support partner can extend the will and spirit of a person providing care!
Verses to encourage compassionate caregiving:
Here are a few ideas that have empowered me to endure over 3 decades of caregiving!
Knowing that my care for each person mattered to God: “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (NIV) Matthew 25: 40
Knowing I have access to a source of Strength that could supply me with compassion, patience and love even when I did not feel it! Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
Knowing even when I failed or felt inadequate God would be there to encourage me. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
Believing that God has specifically gifted me and empowers me to care for the people in my path: 1 Peter 4:10–11 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
And knowing it was OK (and good) to rest and care for myself when needed! “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31
Give yourself access to daily encouraging verses , and consider large print encouragement for your loved one! (affiliate link) Consider printables with encouraging senior and caregiver quotes! If you like, print out this freebie png:
Use caregiver verbal techniques that emphasize compassion.
Communication can be an avenue of emotional destruction or building. An important part of caregiver communication is how your words are expressed, and what type of feelings they evoke. You can express information with many emotions, but commonly in caregiving we use frustration, kindness, or neutrality. When someone is in a position where they need assistance, it is often a place they would not choose to be. To have someone communicate to them with kindness, compassion, and empathy, is not only appropriate, but will often improve their response. As a clinician my goal is to help the patient feel cared for and empowered. I attempt to let them have choices in the process, and I also try to help them feel they are guiding their own care. I have found I have fewer issues and better results when I use positive and empowering word choices. Check out this link for three communication skills that I have found to be helpful in my caregiving!
Communicate written caregiving instructions with compassion.
One way to preserve time in caregiving is by planning your communication. It is important to relay information in a way that is caring, but practically a caregiver often needs to minimize wasted time. In order to be effective and compassionate, a caregiver needs to know what they want to accomplish with the communication, and have appropriate techniques and materials that will support the purpose. Many people who need care, will need reminders to stay consistent, and will be easily overwhelmed by too many details. It is helpful to clarify what you want to take place, and start with small steps. Information you communicate needs to be clear and concise, and we should consider a person’s ability to listen or read, understand, and recall. Don’t limit instructions to verbal only; it is important to also have written instructions/ reminders that can be understood and followed when you are not present. In addition to words, use pictures, charts, and check off lists as well to communicate effectively. Find creative techniques and ideas to improve your results. This can increase your margin of time, and decrease miscommunication- which often leads to stress. Being effective with written communication demonstrates compassion for time and situation!
Results from caregiver communication improve when you are consistent with timing, wording, methods, and supplies.
Using caregiving materials that are appropriate is compassionate.
Daily care and health information can all be confusing. Clear instructions can help save time by eliminating questions or need for clarifications in caregiving. Having a daily, weekly, monthly and annual calendar of appointments, tasks and activities needed can help keep you organized. Daily and weekly checklists (seeing everything you have actually accomplished!) can encourage a caregiver (and senior), as well as provide helpful feedback for the health team and extended family. To minimize confusion and prevent issues from arising, it is important for caregivers to keep open communication with other caregivers involved, the loved one, and extended family. Likewise, caregiving forms may not only help your loved one understand instructions, but also to might help them see what they (or the caregiver) have accomplished. The feedback can contribute to positive responses for client, family and caregiver! Senior focused handouts should be at least 12 font, not all CAPS and easy to read. Save your self time by using prepared senior focused, printable health care handouts from the blog or ETSY!
Here’s another FREEBIE: A printable medication list help improve accuracy and follow through.
If you are a family member or caregiver of a person with dementia or Alzheimers, my family found this book to be an excellent resource for understanding and compassion. (affiliate link) Don’t forget to get large print for an elderly spouse if needed!
Other posts you may find helpful:
10 Tips to be an Organized Caregiver
Improve Your Assessment with a Memory Screen
Do You Need a Social Work Evaluation
What other information or tips would you give for endurance and compassion for caregivers? I would love to hear from you! Subscribe to my blog for free -weekly tips, information and insight into senior care and senior health- and receive a few printable FREEBIES!
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