Putting Yourself in Your Parents’ Shoes: Understanding Their Challenges to be a Better Caregiver

Putting Yourself in Your Parents’ Shoes

When you made the decision to be a family caregiver for your elderly loved one it was likely because you had noticed that they were dealing with challenges that made it more difficult for them to handle their needs on a daily basis. As you move through your journey and their needs progress, however, you might find that you are less confident about handling their needs because you do not fully understand what they are going through. Even if you know that your loved ones are truly dealing with challenges and that these challenges are putting them at risk or diminishing their quality of life, if you do not understand how they are impacting them it can be extremely difficult for you to properly create a care approach that enables you to address these needs and encourage their highest quality of life as they age in place.

One highly effective way that you can improve your care efforts and ensure that you are being the best caregiver possible for your seniors is to try to put yourself in their shoes. While it is impossible for you to completely understand everything that they are going through, especially if they are dealing with issues such as Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, but there are ways that you can give yourself some insight that may help you to feel more connected to your loved ones and to make more confident decisions about your care approach.

Let these ideas inspire you for ways that you can put yourself in your parents’ shoes and understand their challenges better:
• Tunnel vision. Seniors with glaucoma eventually experience tunnel vision. This is caused by the peripheral, or side, vision disappearing so that your seniors can only see central vision. Try looking through toilet paper tubes as you move around the home, or put your hands up beside your eyes so that you cannot see except for in front of you, and then go about your daily tasks to see how challenging it can be.
• Mobility issues. Many seniors have mobility issues that make it difficult for them to lift their feet off of the ground more than an inch or two. This often causes them to shuffle or skid their feet as they walk. Replicate this movement and move around the house trying to use all of the features of the home that you would usually use. If you come upon something requiring you to lift your feet higher, only lift them the inch or two that your parents can and see how difficult that is.
• Range of motion challenges. If your seniors have a limited range of motion it is difficult for them to get through basic tasks such as lifting and bathing. Determine your parents’ range of motion and then have someone tie a piece of fabric or a stretch cord around your arms and hips to replicate these limitations, then try to go about your usual tasks. Try to reach your back without raising your arms higher than the limitations or putting on your shoes without being able to lift your legs.

If you or an aging loved one needs a professional caregiver in Encino, CA, call Livewell Private Care at (310) 933-4986. Servicing Los Angeles, CA and the surrounding areas.