Strategies for Getting (and Staying) Organized While Caregiving
Note: Since this article was written, there is an abundance of technology, including apps, that can help caregivers and families organize. Even so, these suggestions are timeless, so I’ll post them as they stand.
Caring for a vulnerable elder can be rewarding as well as frustrating. It can increase our self-esteem to know that we are helping someone in need, but it can also burden us as we grapple with difficult care decisions and the fact that we aren’t perfect caregivers. (Hint: No one is.)
Caregiving requires continual learning and adjustments, and no two situations are identical. But, becoming as organized as possible and making a consistent effort to stay that way can help you relieve caregiver stress and use your time and energy more efficiently. It might seem overwhelming to maintain order in such a hectic situation, but a reasonably small amount of effort applied regularly will prove to be far easier than frantically trying to handle everyday mishaps and larger emergencies.
Each person’s organization process is unique as well. What is orderly for one person may be considered a baffling mess in someone else’s eyes. The important thing is to understand what your personal organizational style is and then stick to it. Forcing strategies that do not mesh with your personality, schedule or lifestyle are not likely to be effective over the long term.
Below are some tips that I have used that may help you with caregiver organization. Try them out and use them as inspiration to help you find techniques that fit into your unique situation.
Caregiver Organization Tips for Everyday Life
Most of us have daily/weekly/monthly routines we carry out with and for our loved ones. Regularly evaluating and updating these routines can have a huge impact on the amount of time and effort you spend on everything from the most important to the most mundane…
Continue reading on Agingcare for more thoughts on getting and staying organized as a caregiver:
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Support a caregiver or jump-start discussion in support groups with real stories – for bulk orders of Minding Our Elders e-mail Carol Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories.
“An inspiring read for caregivers! Minding Our Elders is a series of stories about caregiving. But it is much more than that. It’s a book that helps us view aging and community through the lens of someone well versed in eldercare. Author Carol Bradley Bursack has been a caregiver for a neighbor and six elderly members of her family. These experiences made her the perfect person to interview and share the stories of friends and acquaintances. Through crisp writing and a sharp focus, we enter the lives of those struggling to care for loved ones with dementia and other age-related illnesses. As I read Minding Our Elders, I felt myself filling up with both appreciation and admiration for those who adopt the caregiving role. In addition, I was struck with the inherent value Carol sees in our elders. This is a well-written book that will stir your heart!” …Ann C
