Has your mantra lately been, “If only there were a few more hours in the day?” If you are a member of the “sandwich generation” – caring for a parent and your children at the same time – getting pulled in many directions is often an everyday occurrence, and can quickly become overwhelming. Independence-4-Seniors Home Care of Chicago, IL invites you to take just a few minutes of your time to review these potentially sanity-saving tips.
- Plan tasks strategically. Create a plan for ongoing duties to enhance efficiency. For example, map out errands to plan required stops in the most well organized manner, and combine duties such as laundry washing and shopping for groceries for your elderly family member with your own.
- Keep the car stocked. Stash a box of useful items in the trunk to have on hand at all times: comfy walking footwear, a fleece or sweater, toiletries, snacks with a long shelf life – anything you feel might be useful for the particular predicaments you might find yourself in on any given day when caring for a parent.
- Skip urgent care facilities. Urgent care visits could lead to several hours of time lost spent in the waiting room. Try contacting the doctor instead to get a same-day appointment, particularly mid-morning, when the day’s cancelled appointments have not yet been filled.
- Organize paperwork. Keep all important paperwork bundled together in an easily identifiable folder. This will be essential in the case of an emergency. The documents in the folder should include: power of attorney, list of medications and emergency contacts, advance directive, health care proxy and medical insurance information.
- Keep a positive outlook. Having a few calm moments the very first thing in the morning to reflect on the things you’re grateful for can go a long way towards reducing stress and setting the stage for a more productive and positive day. Repeat as time allows during the day, especially when emotions are running high.
The very best tip we can suggest is partnering with a professional in-home care agency, like Independence-4-Seniors Home Care serving the Chicago area. We can assist in more ways than you may realize, including running errands, grocery shopping and meal preparation, light housework, and more, in addition to hands-on personalized care and companionship. Contact us at (630) 323-4665 and discover a stress-reduced life for both yourself and your older loved one!