Products that Reduce Demand on Caregivers of Elderly Family Members

As loved one's age, many individuals find themselves becoming the designated caregivers for their elderly loved ones. While most are happy to provide care for those who previously cared for them, this responsibility can often be a tiring and demanding one to bear. You begin to feel like you no longer have time for yourself or that your other obligations are being overlooked because you're spending so much time caring for your family member. While there is no easy answer that will solve all these problems, there are a few products that can help reduce some of the demand on you while also allowing your loved one to be more independent and have a higher quality of life. Keep reading to learn more.

Tending to someone else's hygiene needs can be an incredibly stressful task for a caregiver. Helping a grown adult in and out of the tub or shower can be physically strenuous. And, because the one receiving your help often feels ashamed at their loss of privacy and independence in this area, it can be an emotionally taxing experience as well—for both of you. Nobody ever wants to rely on someone else to clean their own body. But a loss of mobility can make it extremely difficult for elderly individuals to get in and out of the tub safely without help.

A simple solution to this particular caregiver task is the installation of a walk-in tub. Walk-in tubs provide a low entry step, safety grab bars, and accessible sprayers so that those with limited mobility can tend to their hygiene independently again. You'll no longer have to worry about helping your loved one over that high bathtub ledge, and they can go back to enjoying their baths on their own, whenever they wish to, rather than having to wait for your help.

If your loved one has a staircase in their home, you're probably always worried about them trying to ascend or descend the stairs without you and injuring themselves in a nasty fall. You might feel the need to be almost always present to ensure that they can safely get up and down their stairs with your help. This can be a source of constant stress and anxiety for many caregivers.

If you're experiencing these worries, it might be a good idea to install a stairlift in your family member's home. These motorized chairs can safely lift and lower your loved one between levels so that you don't have to worry about their safety on the stairs.

No, this isn't a product. But you need to recognize when you can't take on more responsibility for your aging family member. You have other duties in your life—whether it be a job, school, children, or anything else—and your mental health to consider. There is nothing wrong with asking for help caring for your loved one. And if friends or other family members aren't able to help, look into hiring a care provider. Even finding someone who can assist your loved one for one day a week can make a world of difference for your state of mind.

Using these three simple solutions—a walk-in tub, a stairlift, and a hired helper—can significantly reduce the demand on you as a caregiver.