The moment that you realized that your mother was going to require some form of elder care, you might have dealt with a range of emotions. Perhaps you thought that it was cruel, that it was unfair, or that this was the beginning of the end and it was all downhill from here.

In truth, that’s the farthest thing from reality. Just because someone requires any form of elderly health care, doesn’t mean that he or she stops living life to the fullest. It merely means that they need some extra care or assistance with certain everyday tasks.

If you have taken on the role of being a caregiver to your mother, there are a few steps that you can take that will not only help her get the best care, but that will also keep you safe and healthy, and ensure that your relationship with her remains strong, or becomes even stronger.

1. Get plenty of exercise. Even though you may be driving back and forth between your home and your mother’s, from work and there, and all over the place, if you’re in the car, then you’re sitting more than you’re moving. It’s important to get plenty of exercise to help keep your energy up. Your mother could likely use it too, as long as her doctor clears her for exercise.
2. Laugh about something every day. They say that laughter is the best medicine, and it can be. When you find something to laugh about with your mother, it can be a great day.
3. Watch the caffeine. Sure, you love coffee and you don’t think that you can get going in the morning without it, but that doesn’t mean you should consume caffeine all day. Limit your caffeine intake and you’ll begin to feel better and more focused over the long-term.
4. Be willing to accept help. If other family members offer help, or you are thinking about hiring professional home care for the elderly, accept the help. Not only will this help you, but it will help your mother as well.
5. Know your limitations. Too many of us think we can do more than we actually can. When you recognize your limits, you won’t put yourself, or your elderly loved one, at risk.

There are many more steps that you can use to provide great elder care for a loved one. If you want to learn more, contact a home care agency to discuss options.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Jay Bloodsworth

Owner at A Better Living Home Care

I started A Better Living Home Care Agency after seeing the impersonal and inconsistent service of large home care companies and franchises in the Greater Sacramento Area. I know, because I once worked for one. I left to put the “personal” back into home care.

Latest posts by Jay Bloodsworth (see all)

• Four Key Steps to Better Self-Care for Your Aging Loved One - November 13, 2024
• Know the Symptoms of Pneumonia - November 7, 2024
• Nighttime Delirium Symptoms and Home Treatment - October 29, 2024