Anyone who has to care for a loved one with Parkinson’s disease can feel torn and guilty as they try to balance professional, family and caregiving roles. Many caregivers have to miss time with their families, or miss work to deal with doctor’s appointments and other issues as the caregiving responsibilities mount over time.
Any caregiver who holds a full time or even part time job has to deal with these kind of conflicts every day. But this balancing act can get more difficult when you start having to handle caregiver responsibilities at work, which can happen as you have to handle phone calls pertaining to your loved one’s care.
To better balance your work and caregiver roles, consider some of these simple tips:
- Technology is your friend. There are many smartphone apps out there that allow you to talk face to face by phone. If there is some sort of emergency regarding the Parkinson’s patient at home, you can see what is going on and take the right measures. If there is not an emergency, your loved one can see your face on the phone, which can help to calm her down. Think about setting up a time at lunch to check in at home so your loved one has something that she can look forward to.
- Find out what is going on at home each day. Checking in with your loved one and whoever is caring for her while you are at work can really help to keep her calm.
- Practice calming methods. If you are getting phone calls at work from your loved one with the disease, you should try to find ways to soothe her when you are both at home. It is a good idea to practice this soothing behavior so when you get a call from her when you are working, you can walk him through the calming methods you practiced earlier. Some ways to soothe a person with Parkinson’s includes listening to music, playing games on the computer, petting a dog or cat, or diverting her attention with simple chores.
- Keep a call log. This can help you over time to see if there is a pattern to the calls. If so, go over them with the patient’s doctor and try to see if there are possible solutions. If your loved one is having anxiety attacks, there are medications that can help with this.
- Think about adult day care. If it is harder for your loved one to be separated from you when you are working, think about enrolling her in adult day care.
Dining Aids for Parkinson’s Patients
There are a variety of inexpensive and helpful Parkinson’s supplies available to help you to be more effective as a caregiver. These products also help your loved one to live a fuller and more independent life. Consider Gripware High Sided Dishes that are helpful for eating for those with less hand coordination. Or, K Eatlery Weighted Utensils provide heavier weight when eating to steady the hands, so the eating process is simpler.
