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Four Tips for Building a Support Network that Works for You
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December 17, 2018Four Tips for Building a Support Network that Works for You
As much as you might want to handle everything about caregiving on your own, you really need a solid support system behind you. Here’s what to do to start building a support network that you can rely on in good times and in difficult times.
Home Care Services Pasadena CA – Four Tips for Building a Support Network that Works for You
Look at What You Need and Want
When you’re building or adjusting your support network, it’s vital for you to know what you need and what you want. Do you need someone to run errands for you? Or does your senior need someone to drive her places? You may want someone to help you with phone calls that need to be made. Whatever it is, you have to have a clear picture in your mind so that you can look for the people and the solutions that meet those needs. A home care services provider may be helpful for the situation.
Make a List of What Already Works
Chances are that there are some parts of your support system that already work for you to some extent. Those parts are something you don’t want to do away with, of course, so it pays to know what they are. Maybe you’ve got a family member who does your senior’s grocery shopping for her. That’s something to put in the plus column.
Figure out Where You Need More Help
Once you know what is working, you can figure out where you need more help or even different types of help. For instance, maybe your senior doesn’t want someone else doing her grocery shopping for her. The solution might be a home care services provider to take her to the grocery store so that she can choose her items herself. These situations are going to fluctuate depending on what is going on in your life and in your senior’s life.
Look for Ways to Get that Help
When you know where you need the extra help, you can start to find the right solutions. In the case of grocery shopping, home care services providers may be the right answer. They can offer companionship and make sure that your senior makes it through her grocery shopping safely. Then they can help her to put her items away and tackle other tasks for her.
Your support network may change many times over your caregiving journey and that’s okay. Your needs and your senior’s needs are going to be changing, too. This is why frequently reassessing how well your support system works for you is crucial.
