Caring for an Aging Relative: How to Ease the Transition

(ARA) - According to U.S. Bureau of Census data, the number of Americans age 65 and over will increase from 34 million to over 70 million in the next 30 years. The aging baby boomer generation will soon be more than a prediction, and family members, who often provide at least a portion of care to their aging relatives, are often unprepared to deal with the many issues facing the senior and themselves. From planning a change of residence to communicating effectively, there are many simple, yet overlooked ways to ease caregiving for the elderly and their family members.

Although the thought of placing a parent or relative in an assisted-living facility is not something many people like to think about, it is important to be prepared for the occasion. Take advantage of resources such as the Internet and local elderly advocate groups in your area. A small amount of research can greatly benefit both parties and lessen the stress level for this often difficult transition.

Dealing with an aging relative in the midst of other fast-paced life activities can frazzle nerves and leave the caregiving family member burnt out. In order to remain positive with your aging relative, realize that you can only do so much, especially if you have young children of your own and a full-time job. Many family caregivers have no health care training and require help from an outside source in order to provide the appropriate care. Asking for help from an outside source is not something to feel guilty about.

Many organizations are realizing the sudden urgency and demand for caregiving assistance. There is more and more material being published not only for family caregivers, but also for volunteers. New training manuals such as "Caring to Help Others" have been produced specifically for volunteers who will be working with senior citizens in need of care. The manual, created in cooperation with groups such as AARP and The National Council on the Aging, Inc., and sponsored by Eisai Inc., a research-based pharmaceutical company in Teaneck, New Jersey, is designed to educate and prepare volunteers to assist caregivers of older adults. As the number and need for qualified volunteers rises, manuals and programs such as this are invaluable tools that assist family members in caring for their elderly relative.

The amount of quality time you spend caring for an aging relative can be greatly increased when you keep a few thoughts in mind:

1. Plan with your aging family member if possible, and not for them. Maintaining a sense of dignity and control is important at any phase of one's life. Involving them in the decision making is one way to allow them some control over their immediate future.

2. Listening is imperative. At times, it can be difficult and time-consuming to comprehend an aging family member's wants and needs. But if you take the time to listen actively, it can save you much more time than wondering and assuming what the person is trying to communicate. It is equally important to slow your speech down and speak distinctly. This will help older persons to more easily hear what you are saying.

3. Encourage independence. It's easy for aging seniors to rely on others for their every want and need, and very often it is a necessary aspect of an aging person's life. But when their mental and physical health allow for a life with a certain amount of independence, it can discourage them from becoming inactive and help them fully enjoy the later years of their life.

The "Caring to Help Others" volunteer manual is available free of charge to qualified organizations for training volunteer support caregivers. Organizations that meet the established qualification criteria may request free copies of the training manual by sending requests on their letterhead to Caring To Help Others, P.O. Box 5376, New York, NY 10185-5376. The manual also will be available on a web site in 2001.

Courtesy of ARA Content, www.aracontent.com, e-mail: info@aracontent.com