3 Tips If You Know Caregiving Is Hard on Your Adult Children

Many seniors require caregivers as they grow older since their mobility is affected and they may not be able to perform all the chores they used to be able to do. They might need someone to help with cooking and cleaning. If they have memory-related issues, they might need someone who can remind them to take their medications or just someone who can help them to orient themselves in their homes. If their mobility issues are serious, they might need someone to help them to get out of bed, bathe, dress, etc.

Often, the caregivers working with seniors are their adult children. And although these adult children might be happy to be caregivers, they might also find the role challenging.

Why Is Caregiving Challenging for Adult Children?

There are several reasons why caregiving may be hard on adult children.

Physical Challenges: It may be physically difficult for adult children to help their parents who have mobility issues. It's not easy to lift an adult human being out of bed and support them while bathing and clothing them. Caregivers can strain their back muscles while trying to do all this.
Lack of Time: Caregivers might also find that caregiving takes up a lot of time, especially if they are working full-time or taking care of kids of their own. They might end up never having any downtime.
Sibling Issues: At times, one of the senior's children may end up taking more responsibility for the senior than the other child/children who don't live in the area, thus giving rise to feelings of resentment.
Medical Issues: Caregivers will have to understand the senior's medical issues in detail so that they can start giving them their medication, injections, intravenous fluids, etc. This might be hard for them to grasp right away.

How to Reduce Stress for Adult Children Who Are Caregivers

Caregiving can be stressful. Here are tips that can help alleviate this problem.

Distributing Duties: If the senior has more than one child, then it makes sense for the caregiving duties to be distributed between their children. Each caregiver can perform different duties. For example, if one of them stays at home, they can perform the duties that have to be done at home while the other can pick up groceries, medications, etc.
Hiring a Caregiver: It's possible to hire a caregiver who can relieve the adult child who is providing care to the senior. A caregiver can come in a few days a week and the adult child can provide care a few days a week. A caregiver can also be hired to come in every day, if necessary. Caregivers can remind the senior to take their medication, perform some chores around the house, and help the senior with their daily activities, in addition to providing some companionship for seniors fighting isolation and loneliness.
Showing Appreciation: Sometimes, a simple display of gratitude can go a long way. This is something the senior and other family members can do from time to time. It may not reduce the caregiver's stress, but it can at least help them to feel more valued.

For seniors living in St. Paul, Roseville, New Brighton, Shore View, or North Oaks, Senior Helpers Roseville can provide caregivers who will be able to share the caregiving duties with the senior's adult children or take them over to a large extent, depending on what's needed.