How is Your Caregiver Journey Impacting Your Children?

By Jamie Shapiro | January 29, 2016 | Comments Off on How is Your Caregiver Journey Impacting Your Children?

Caregivers in Buffalo Grove IL

The choice to become a family caregiver for your elderly loved ones is a decision that does not just impact you, but everyone in your life. When you make the commitment to give of your time, energy, effort, and even financial resources to ensure that your aging loved ones’ needs are met on a regular basis you are also making the decision to take some of these same resources away from those who are accustomed to receiving them from you. This can be challenging to everyone involved, but particularly so for your children.

Children often have a difficult time understanding why things change in their lives, and may experience a negative emotional reaction to you suddenly becoming more devoted to the needs of your parents. They might feel as though you no longer love them as much as you used to, that you do not care about them like you did, or that your family is not together anymore. Even if you do not think that your efforts are making a tremendous difference in your usual routine, your children might have a much different perception. Being sensitive to how your caregiver journey impacts your children, and making and effort to minimize the negative impact and maximize the benefits that do exist in this relationship as much as possible helps to preserve your children’s mental and emotional health, support better relationships within your family, and give you the confidence and peace of mind to continue offering your parents the level of care and assistance that they need.

Some ways that you can help your children as they cope with your new caregiver efforts with your aging loved ones include:

  • Talk to them about it. Do not assume that your children understand why you are in a care relationship with your parents. Even older children may have difficulty understanding the change and not able to recognize what you are doing for your seniors. Make sure that you sit down with your children and talk to them about your parents’ challenges, what you are doing for them, and why it is important. Also give them plenty of time to tell you about their emotions and concerns so that you can address them and give them more confidence about the issues.
  • Spend quality time with them. Make sure that you set aside special time to spend with your children. Schedule activities, outings, or even just cuddling up on the couch and watching a movie together. Just taking time to focus on your children reassures them and provides an emotional boost for all of you.
  • Make them a part of it. Even the youngest children can be a valuable part of your care journey with your loved ones. Give them the chance to be involved in the care that you give your parents so that they understand what it is that you do for them when you are away from home, but also so that they can feel accomplished, important, and like they are helping you and their grandparents. This can be as simple as going with you to their home and sitting with your parents to read a book or do a craft while you clean up, helping fold laundry and wash dishes, or help them care for their pets.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Buffalo Grove, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.

Jamie Shapiro
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