Time Management Strategies for Caregivers

Don’t let the title scare you, folks. I’m not presenting a “system” here. Personally, I’ve never seen a chart or graph designed to help me organize my life that I didn’t intentionally ignore. “Systems” designed by experts never take my life or personality into consideration. Instead, they seem like cookie-cutter solutions intended only for organizing some dream life.

That being said, tips and thoughts from people whose experiences have closely mirrored mine, in at least some aspects, have been generally welcome. I like real-life stories, and I like knowing how people make their lives work. If ideas are presented to me that way, I can gauge the flexibility of their “system” and see how it fits with their personality and lifestyle. This makes suggestions sound more authentic and less like demands that I “shape up” and act like other people. I can then learn from their experiences, take what works for me and ignore the rest free of guilt.

So, please take my suggestions in this manner. I’ve discussed some ideas with other caregivers, including those who care for elders and one man who cares for a child with disabilities. Our time management techniques aren’t that different. Although caregivers and their situations are unique, when we care for vulnerable people, we are surprisingly alike.

Expect the Unexpected
For me, the need to be prepared for anything is mandatory. During my heaviest caregiving years, I was raising two children (one with multiple health problems), caring for multiple elders (several of whom lived in a nearby nursing home), and working full-time.

Back then, a call to my work phone could mean that one of my elders was at the emergency room or that my son was very ill. It could be as simple as a quick errand or as serious as making the choice to begin hospice care. I must say that a ringing phone can still, at times, be a scary thing for me. Knowing that I was somewhat prepared for an emergency…

Continue reading on Agingcare for discussion on the difficulties of caregiver time management:

Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories. “For anyone having to walk the last segments of life with a loved one, read this.” …Delores

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