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5-essential-burnout-prevention-tips-for-family-caregivers

People who devote themselves to the unpaid care of chronically ill or disabled family members are highly prone to caregiver burnout. After all, the demands of caregiving can be overwhelming, particularly if you feel like everything is out of your control or that you’re in over your head.

If you let the stress of caregiving advance to burnout, it can negatively impact both your mental and physical health. If you’re caring for a family member, it is vital that you get the help that you need. The good news is you are not alone. Help is available to you.

Beloved Shepherd LLC, a provider of Habilitation Services in Fort Wayne, Indiana, offers the following burnout prevention tips for caregivers:

  • Learn as much as you can about your family member’s disability or illness.

    By learning what you can, you can be a more effective caregiver and the better you’ll feel about your efforts. This will also help you communicate more effectively with their doctors.

  • Accept help.

    When people offer to help, accept it. You don’t have to do everything on your own. Rely on your family, friends, and community whenever and wherever possible. If someone offers to help, recommend specific things that they can do.

  • Take care of yourself.

    When you are a caregiver, it might seem impossible to find time to rest and enjoy yourself. However, this is something that you owe to yourself. Without proper rest, you may not have enough physical or mental strength to deal with all of the tasks and stress that you deal with as a caregiver. Give yourself permission to rest and to do things that you enjoy. Go on a vacation, hang out with your friends, eat balanced meals, exercise, see your doctor, and indulge in your interests.

  • Watch out for signs of depression and get immediate help when you need it.

    Caregiving can be an emotionally devastating job. Watching your loved one suffer and deteriorate can be very disheartening. It is important for you to watch out for signs of depression, such as hopelessness, irritability, sleep issues, weight issues, loss of energy, unexplained aches, and loss of interest in daily activities. When you notice any of these signs, please seek help immediately. Consider seeing a therapist or joining a support group. There’s no shame in seeking emotional support.

  • Respite care.

    If caregiving is your job, then consider having respite. We offer respite services in Indiana for the families of our clients. We provide caregivers with the opportunity to take a break from the daily challenges associated with caregiving. Reward yourself with respite breaks often.

It may feel like it sometimes, but please remember that you are not alone. Hopefully, these tips will be able to help you better prevent burnout so that you can continue to take care of your loved one when they need it the most.

4-ways-to-transport-your-loved-one-to-their-medical-or-other-appointments

When they can’t drive, getting a disabled or elderly loved one to the doctor and other appointments can be challenging. They can’t miss an important appointment; however, you can’t drop everything to accompany and give them a ride every time.

It might seem like you don’t have a lot of options, but there are actually a lot of transportation choices that you can use. To some, this list may seem like common sense; however, there are actually some people who aren’t familiar with these available options.

Beloved Shepherd LLC, a reliable provider of Habilitation Services in Fort Wayne, Indiana, lists 4 ways to get your loved one to their doctor and other appointments:

  • Drive them yourself.

    When possible, this is typically the first option that most people think about. Furthermore, your relative may feel more comfortable traveling with you. However, this isn’t always possible due to numerous reasons such as conflicting schedules or distance. If, for whatever reason, you can’t safely transport your relative, or if they’re in a wheelchair and your vehicle can’t accommodate their needs, you should consider an alternative.

  • Use non-emergency medical transportation.

    Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) services are ideal for seniors and people with disabilities who need transportation assistance. The benefit of using a NEMT is that they will be traveling with a trained professional who can keep them company, as well as offer immediate response in case any situation arises.

  • Use a wheelchair van.

    For individuals who are confined to a wheelchair, wheelchair vans are the most ideal solution. Not only is it accessible, but it also includes a trained staff who can provide assistance with getting in and out of the vehicle.

  • Use an ambulance.

    While this may not be the most affordable option, some individuals may require an ambulance to get to and from their medical appointments. Furthermore, Medicare and most private insurances won’t cover this service unless the individual meets certain criteria (i.e. needing dialysis etc.). For more information regarding Medicare coverage for ambulance services, please refer to this resource.

As a premier assisted living facility, Beloved Shepherd LLC offers transportation assistance for all of our residents. However, we hope that this list will be able to help those who are looking for solutions to their transportation needs.

What Is Community-Based Habilitation Services?

Our community-based habilitation services in Fort Wayne, Indiana are geared towards serving individuals who do not have the ability to live on their own or independently. Unlike residential habilitation services where we are simply improving our clients’ ability to live on their own, this service is for people who require regular care and support on a daily basis. Thus, it is our goal to help increase their potential mentally, psychologically, socially, and physically through personalized habilitation progress in a community setting, such as:

  • Socialization: Many individuals who have developmental disabilities may have a difficult time socializing with others. Through our personalized habilitation program, we can help develop vital social and interpersonal skills. This also includes improving their communication skills so they are able to properly express their feelings, what they are thinking, or to simply socialize with the people around them.

  • Cognitive Development: We can help improve vital skills and enhance cognitive development when it comes down to numerous day-to-day tasks such as remembering phone numbers, managing money, handling emergencies, telling the tame, or even problem-solving. These may sound basic for many of us but for these individuals, these can be challenging tasks but we aim to help improve their skills.

  • Personal Care Skills: We can also provide valuable personal care skills. We can educate our clients on how to properly groom, how to use the bathroom, and even how to eat.

  • Health: Part of our personalized program is finding ways to improve the health of our clients. We are committed to enhancing their social, mental, emotional, and physical health through better food, personalized education, and with regular exercise that focuses on enhancing numerous skills needed for day-to-day life. As an assisted living facility, we are fully equipped to provide the best services possible.

These are just a few of the many things we can do through our community habilitation services. It is our goal to provide an individual with developmental disabilities the chance to reach and exceed their potential both physically and mentally. Beloved Shepherd LLC believes that disabilities should not hold anyone back. With proper support, anyone can live the life they want.

Residential habilitation services are for individuals who require assistance to get through the day due to physical disabilities and developmental disabilities. These individuals still have the ability to live independently at home but through residential habitation services, we are able to improve their quality of life. We do this by helping them preserve their self-care abilities.

Have you or your loved one been referred to Residential Habilitation? It’s important to know the very basics of what to expect. We will try to explain the benefits of Residential Habilitation and what it can contribute to your day-to-day life.

  • Skill Building:As part of our habilitation services in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Beloved Shepherd LLC is committed to helping you build the skills needed for everyday life. These skills can be anything from learning how to live on your own to cope with a new disability that you may have recently sustained. This service is designed to help you maintain your independence, so you can continue living on your own terms.
  • Personalized Plans:We do not have generic or cookie-cutter plans. All of our care plans are “Person-Centered-Plan” personalized to meet the individual unique plan. It is our goal to help you in any way we can, so you can live a full and satisfying lifestyle. Since everyone is different, we will need to have a different approach when it comes down to taking care of our clients.
  • Respite for the Caregiver:We offer exceptional respite services in Indiana. Are you a caregiver for a developmentally or physically disabled loved one? When you are the sole care provider for your loved one, this can be a challenging task because you still have other responsibilities to take care of such as your job or your own children/family. However, through our respite care services, you can rest easy because your loved one will be in the best hands possible when you’re taking a break from your caregiving tasks. We will provide them with the same level of care that you would provide yourself while personalizing our support to ensure all of their needs are being met.

That is just the basics of residential habilitation services. These services are effective for helping people with disabilities live fuller, normal, and more independent lives at home and on their own terms. By teaching our clients valuable skills and empowering them to support themselves, we are committed to helping these individuals live the lives they deserve, regardless of their disabilities or conditions that they were born with or got later in life.

Would you like to give this opportunity for yourself or a loved one? Talk to us soon! Please don’t hesitate to contact us.

How Do You Deal with a Senior Loved One Who Refuses to Get Help?

If you think that you are the only one facing this challenge – you are not alone. A senior refusing to receive help is a common situation for family caregivers around the globe face. In fact, even professional caregivers frequently encounter this kind of situation in their career.

So how do you deal with a senior loved one who refuses to get help? Our years of experience as a provider of residential habilitation and running an assisted living facility has taught us the following strategies:

  • Discover the root cause of the refusal

    The first step you need to take is to find out the reason behind your loved one’s refusal. Unfortunately, a lot of people fail to do this. As a result – there is a lack of understanding and absence of effective communication.

    By finding out the reason behind the refusal to receive help or care, you can gain better understanding of how your loved one feels and thinks. This allows you to come up with a better approach or strategy on how to deal with the situation.

    Ask questions. You will be surprised to know that your senior loved one’s refusal are actually on a good sense. One of the most common reasons are lack of privacy, fear of losing independence, and concern over cost of care. Listen with empathy and most importantly acknowledge their feelings.

  • Look for the right opportunity

    Since it is such a sensitive subject for a lot of seniors, picking the right time and place is vital. Timing is everything.

    Deciding when to talk and offer help again is extremely important. Doing this at a time of crisis is a huge NO. It is best to bring up the subject again when the issue is under control or less pressure. Choose a neutral place free of distraction where both of you can have a heart to heart talk.

  • Know your options

    Before setting the time and place, make sure you know your options. You do not want to go into an argument blind and without substantial information to back up your appeal.

    Do your homework. The internet can provide you with a lot of information about this matter. Look into credible providers and services available within your area. Be ready with specific recommendations. This will help give your elder loved one reassurance and a peace of mind.

  • Offer options

    Most importantly – get your loved one involved. Do not just spit out recommendations, offer options as well. It is important to remember that your loved one’s life will be affected by the decisions. It is thereby imperative that they have a choice. Include your loved in looking for providers, scheduling tours, and talking with the staff.

    This is also an excellent strategy to reinforce the concept of control. Always remember that your elderly loved one is a grown up and not a child and so you must treat them as one.

If you are looking into habilitation services in Fort Wayne, Indiana, you can call Beloved Shepherd LLC to learn more about our services. Thank you for your trust in our staff.

3 Signs You Need Respite Care

Taking on the responsibility as a caregiver is a common reality for a family member, especially the ones with an aging parent or a disabled loved one. The sense of fulfillment of doing so is immeasurable without a doubt as well as its many challenges.

Being a caregiver is not easy. Not only are you dealing with physical stress but emotional and mental strain as well. How can you recognize that you need a break?

One might think that knowing when to take respite is simple, however, this is not the case for caregivers. Caregivers are so focused on taking care of others that they often forget about themselves. As a result, a lot of caregivers suffer from what we call caregiver strain.

Signs You Need to Take Respite from Your Caregiving Duties

  • You are becoming more and more irritable

    As a caregiver, you are required to be patient especially when it comes to dealing with your loved one. You need to be patient with repetitive routines and conversations.

    When the situation becomes maddening and you snap at your loved one – this is a red flag. When your patience thins out and you find yourself easily irritated and frustrated, it might be the right time to take respite.

  • You are committing mistakes

    Caregiving requires absolute concentration and meticulousness since it is dealing with life. Common mistakes can lead to life-threatening events. Which is why if you find yourself committing multiple mistakes – it is definitely time to take a break. Do not wait till you commit a huge error which can put your loved one’s life at stake before you finally consider respite care.

  • Your health is affected

    Caregivers are known for sacrificing their needs in order to take care of a patient. Over time, this leads to physical health problems. When you are beginning to feel the effects of the strain on your body – take a breather.

    It is important to remember that in order for you to be able to effectively take care of someone else, you need to take care of yourself first. How can you take care of someone else if your mind and body are not in its optimal state?

If you experience the following signs, then you direly need to take respite.

Beloved Shepherd LLC habilitation services in Fort Wayne, Indiana include respite care. Our professional caregivers are ready to step in if you need a breather anytime.