Med-Q Medication Compliance System | July 14, 2019

The Challenges Facing a Family Caregiver

What is it like being a family caregiver?. Again, what is a Family caregiver? First of all, more than 40 million American adults are a family caregiver. First of all, they have provided unpaid care to an adult or child within the last year. Second of all, in excess of 35 Million are 50 years old or even older. Third of all, the average family caregiver spends 20-25 hours a week caring for loved one. Finally, 25% have said that they spend 40 plus hours per week on their care giving responsibilities. They need help. Technology, like a med-q medication reminder with alarms will help reduce caregiver stress.

The Caregivers that report the highest stress, those caring for a spouse.

However, being the family caregiver usually involves tasks above and beyond day to day tasks. For example, assisting with activities of daily living, like bathing, and dressing . To further illustrate, setting up a medication reminder or pill box as well as cooking meals.

In addition, there will be nursing type tasks that must be preformed. For example, taking blood pressure of blood sugar level tests. These would typically be performed by a nurse in an assisted living facility.

Being a Family Caregiver – The Common Challenges

First, being a family caregiver is a truly rewarding experience most of the time. This being said, most, if not all, caregivers will see many challenges. Furthermore, these challenges can be overwhelming. To sum up, a family caregivers have to do all this while work, and having a social life.

6 care giving stress factors

• Medication Management for pills and supplements. Caregivers need to make sure their Loved one is taking their life saving medication. For example, when at work, they need to call mom to remind her to take her pills. Hence a medication reminder or some kind of smart pill box with alarm is a real life saver. The Smart pill box will eliminate the stress, worry and wondering over medication compliance. To sum up, no more forgetting or over dosing
• Being able to Managing one’s time. Caregivers will have less time for themselves. They same applies to family as well as friends. They often spend too much of their time on the care giving responsibilities. Hence, ending up sacrificing the things they like to do. To illustrate, concert, hobbies or week-end getaways. Finally, trying to manage work schedules, family time and a social life around care-giving is next to impossible.

Warning sign that come with being a family caregiver

• Emotional and physical stress. 23 Percent of all of the caregivers tell MED-Q: “Their health has gotten progressively worse as a result of their care giving”. Caring for chronic conditions like Alzheimer’s disease cause the most physical as well as emotional stress. The physical demands of care-giving will take a toll. Subsequently, lifting and helping with mobility may cause physical injury.
• Financial strain. Fact, almost all family caregivers are not paid. In fact, most will feel financial hardship. Consequently, this is made worse if care giving takes them away from their work. To sum up, longer the family caregiver is being provided, the worse the financial strain will be.
• Lack of the proper amount of Sleep (Deprivation). In short, sleep deprivation may be a problem. Again, both for the family caregiver and the patient. For example, many times a loved one’s sleep-wake cycle can be scrambled. Finally, doctors will tell you that sleep deprivation will take a huge toll on a caregiver. Again, this happens when the caregiver is feeling the strain of “burning the candle at both ends”.

Everybody needs some help

• Don’t ever be afraid to ask for needed help. The problem, caregivers will often feel ashamed by asking for help.First of all, they feel that it is some kind of failure. Second of all, they think that requesting help is some sign of weakness. The result, starting to feel guilt. For example, guilt form not providing the very best care possible. Help can be provided by technology. To best illustrate, a medication reminder can solve the prescription management problems.
• Feeling Depressed with feelings of isolation. Note, caregivers are much more likely to feel depression. Often, , care giving duties take up all of their time. The results, no longer having social interactions outside of the home.

Sponsored by Med-Q medication reminder with alarms

What happens if every option sin’t working

What happens when every option has been explored. Subsequently, things still aren’t working. The question, are you resisting assisted living because of feelings of guilt? “Step back,” Med-Q says. “Be objective. When the issues becomes dangerous to either of you, ask yourself why you’re being so stubborn about a change.” To sum up, caregivers are no longer frustrated and angry with their loved ones all the time. Hence, now they can to spend the emotional energy in other areas.

Overwhelming care tasks: Solutions

Find a balance between being a family caregiver and your needs

• Make sure that you have a through physical exam from the doctor. For example, a problem, such as incontinence, can be fixed with medication. Another example, using an adult diaper as well as a specific toilet schedules,. Changes in medications, may make incontinence easier to manage. Frequent falls and problems getting up are other physiological problems that may be treatable.
• How to handle behavioral issues. For example Alzheimer’s wandering. Use technology to prevent accidents. For example, floor alarms, door locks and motion detectors. To sum up, these devices will reducing anxiety as well as making a difference.
• Check into getting additional help. Furthermore, care assistants or nurse aides will give you extra time. Use a smart medication reminder for pills and supplements.
• don’t try to solve the problems all by yourself.. Talk with other family caregivers. In addition, social worker or geriatric care manager can be helpful. The same applies to doctors, and friends — including virtual ones — who may have experienced similar issues.

Consequently, respite breaks are important to family caregivers

For example, children, spouse and co-workers

Being a family caregiver requires respite help. Respite care lets the caregiver take a break from their family caregiver job. Hence, they can now take care to their own needs and wants. To sum up, whether it’s to focus on themselves or to pursue other activities. Being a family caregiver requires respite care service. The goal, make sure they take care of themselves.

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