Strategies for Getting (and Staying) Organized While Caregiving

There are now many apps available that can help with organizing, but that said, some of these older tips are still valid. Personally, I find a combination of old style paper and newer electronic methods works best, but we’re all different.

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 tasks. Consider some of the following organizational improvements:

Create a System for Medication Management: Most caregivers and seniors use some type of medication organizer or…

Continue reading on Agingcare for tips on staying organized as a caregiver:

Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories.   “I hold onto your book as a life preserver and am reading it slowly on purpose…I don’t want it to end.” …Craig William Dayton, Film Composer

Discover the Difference. EGOSAN: The premium incontinence brand caregivers love  –  Now Available on Amazon.