Caregiver 101: Top 5 Things That Should Be at the Top of Every Caregiver's To-do-list

So you’re a caregiver now. I don’t have to pinch you. No, you’re not dreaming. You’re a caregiver now. Whether it’s an aging parent, an ill spouse, or an adult child who has been afflicted with an untimely disability, the responsibility has fallen to you to care for them. So where do you start? I’ve put together a list of the top 5 action items to jump start your caregiving journey.

Get Spiritually Grounded
Get Affairs in order
Get Organized
Get Support
Get Knowledge

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Top 5 Things That Should Be at the Top of Every Caregiver’s To-do-list

1. Get Spiritually Grounded

If I had to choose one item off of this list to help caregivers, it would be to get spiritually ground. Being a caregiver can be one of the most physically demanding and mentally taxing things you will ever do, but above all of that, it may very well be the most spiritually transformative thing you ever do as well. I have outline 5 helpful tips to strengthen you spiritually for all of the challenges that will come your way on your journey as a caregiver. This list includes:

Pray– Regular prayer is one of the most powerful tools in your spiritual toolbox. Use it!
Journal– Journaling this spiritual journey of caregiving can be a great release and help you relieve stress.
Read your Bible- God’s Word is rich with His promises and instructions. Those are 2 things you can’t get enough of as a caregiver.
Find other believers to fellowship with– God’s Word tells us to forsake not the fellowship. Being a caregiver may just be one of the most challenging things you will ever do. Use this the time to draw strength from other believers.
Listen to worship music– Music has been shown to relieve stress, lower blood pressure, and improve your overall mood.

You can check out the full blog post on Spiritual Help to Prevent Caregiver burnout here.

For a copy of my FREE 7-Day Caregiver Prayer Journal, full of inspirational prayers, click here.

Click Here for more inspirational prayers, coloring pages, journaling, and more…

2. Get Affairs in Order

Many of us avoid this daunting task, but trust me, the sooner you can get your loved one’s affairs in order, the better. This is a list of 4 things to get in place as soon as possible.

Healthcare Power of Attorney (POA) – The healthcare POA allows you to make healthcare decisions for your loved one who may be incapacitated. Ideally, you want to get this established while your loved one can be a part of this process.
Financial POA– Like the healthcare POA, the financial POA allows you to make financial decisions for your loved one who may be incapacitated.
Living Will– This document indicates ones’ wishes for medical treatment if they should become medically incapacitated.
Post-Death Preparations– No one likes talking about these things, but your loved one may have specific requests that you would want to honor, such as cremation vs burial or memorial service vs funeral service.

If your family member is still mentally capable, I suggest discussing these things as soon as possible and getting them legally solidified. In my experience, working with geriatric and end of life patients, I’ve found that health directives truly are a gift to the family. Having these documents in place decrease stress and worry about making the right decision for your loved one.

While getting all of these things taken care of for your loved one, take the time to get these things in order for yourself as well. As overwhelmed as you are right now, the last thing you want to do is to put these same burdens on your caregivers one day. You can create yours and your family’s healthcare directives in just 5-10 minutes online with Law Depot. Use this link and get a living will done for FREE and 10% off of any additional paid services.

3. Get Organized

The more organized you are, the easier it is to stay on top of and anticipate the needs of your loved one. Another benefit of getting things organized is delegation. When you put easy-to-follow systems in place, it is much easier to relinquish duties to other family members or caregivers. Take medications for example, if all of the medications are clearly labels, sorted, and even logged, the system becomes almost fail-proof and stress-free. You then know when to order refills, what has or has not been taken, and when the next dose is due, whether you’re the next person responsible for giving them or not. There are many items that can be organized and systematized, such as:

Medications
List of physicians and other providers
List of immunizations
Insurance information
List of past and present medical conditions and surgeries
Feedings (tube feedings or otherwise)
Output (If constipation, diarrhea, or incontinence is a concern)
Vital signs (Blood pressure, pulse, respirations, oxygen levels, temperature)
Blood sugar for diabetics
Behavior logs can be helpful for people with dementia.

May sure you have copies of important documents for trips to new doctors or unexpected trips to the hospital, including:

Hospital Paperwork Checklist

Updated medication list
Copy of insurance cards
Copy of advanced directives

Emergency Numbers Checklist

Things to keep posted on the refrigerator and/or programmed into your cellphone:

Doctors’ numbers
Non-emergent numbers for the police and local fire department. They are available to assist with lifts from falls, but it’s usually not necessary to call 911 unless you suspect a serious injury.
DNR ( Do not resuscitate), if they have one. Take a picture and keep a photo on your phone, as well as, keep a copy on the refrigerator.
Poison Control number

To get FREE customizable printable medication lists, emergency contact and physician forms, daily logs, and much more sign up for my free Caregiver 101 Mini-Course.

4. Get Support

When you’re trying to navigate this complicated road as a caregiver, it is easy to feel alone. Truthfully, this can be a very isolating season of life, if you allow it to be. But, I have news for you, there is plenty of support out there, you just have to find your community.

Ask your family for help. Families can be complicated sometimes, where caregiving is concerned, but I would recommend that you start at “home.” Ask siblings, adult children, and grandchildren, what they think they can contribute to the care of your loved one. It may be money, groceries, medical supplies, or time. There is no shame in asking for help or expecting it. Don’t let everyone else off the hook so easily. Just like raising a child, caregiving takes a village.

Home Health Care. This may be another option. More than just emotional support, you may need physical support. If your loved one has a skilled need, home care may be appropriate. Home health care provides services such as skilled nursing, home health aide, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and social services. Ask the primary care provider if your loved one may qualify.

Paid caregiver services. These services are similar to home health care, but their services are typically paid for out of pocket and they provide in-home nursing care services. You may need these services overnight or when you go to work. This is a great option if you can afford it, but it can be costly. Don’t feel like you have to go through an agency for these services, you will often pay 2-3 times more than paying for a bonded caregiver, that works independently. Ask around your church or job. You can oftentimes find great caregivers, that are reliable and usually more flexible than an agency. I would still recommend that you do your due diligence with background checks, credentials, and references from previous jobs.

Physical support groups. There are some many different types of groups for caregivers, such as those caring for spouses, parents, grandparents, disabled children. There are also groups for those caring for people with specific conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or Cancer. Find out what’s available in your community.

Online forums and Facebook Groups. Facebook is about more than just social media these days. Facebook has thousands of different groups, full of like-minded people. Find your “people.”

5. Get Knowledge

You don’t have to be a medical professional to care for your loved one effectively or gracefully, but it never hurts to educate yourself on the conditions they are dealing with. The PCP can give you handouts on any medical condition they are treating. Also, the internet is full of great information, but make sure you are getting your information from trusted, reliable sources. Not all sources are created equal. Be sure to check out the list of resources below.

In Summary

You have been charged with a huge responsibility. Do yourself a favor and tackle this to-do-list ASAP. To get a copy of my 7-Day Caregiver 101 Mini course, click here, don’t forget to pin this post. I wish you the very best in your journey to caregiving gracefully.

Comment below with questions or your best caregiver tip. I would love to hear from you.

Be Blessed