In 2024, people have become more aware of the importance of physical and mental health as a part of well-being in general. That notion is applied to the world of caregiving, in which caregivers need to adopt new strategies by taking care of themselves so they can take care of someone else. Luckily, new tools and methods are invented to help caregivers adopt those new strategies.
Continue reading as we share caregiving tips in 2024 to help you, as a caregiver, stay up-to-date with the latest tools and methods that allow you to give the best care for your loved one and yourself.
Top 5 Caregiving Tips in 2024
1. Embrace Technology in Caregiving
One of the most impactful caregiving tips in 2024 is to apply technology in your caregiving practice. These days, there are various apps and tools that can significantly help you tackle the daily caregiving tasks and improve the overall quality of care you provide. Applications like Caring Village and Lotsa Helping Hands also offer features like a communication platform, shared calendars, and health tracking to update information about the person you cared for with the other family members.
Telehealth has also gained popularity in recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. An online doctor consultation can reduce the stress of visiting medical facilities. To ensure the consultations run smoothly and the doctors can obtain adequate information, however, make sure your loved one has a reliable internet connection, a desktop PC, laptop, or tablet with a good camera and microphone, and a quiet, bright room with doors to ensure privacy.
Our last tip is introducing new technologies that can help increase your loved one’s safety and comfort while giving you peace of mind. Devices, such as medical alert systems with fall detection sensors, will sense when your loved one is falling and send an alert for help. Other helpful devices are smart speakers that can help your loved one control the smart TV or lightbulb or listen to the news and automated lighting systems.
However, you need to remember that you are usually dealing with a person who is not accustomed to advanced technology, so our tip is to start small and let your loved one adapt before you add another one.
2. Prioritize Mental Health and Self-Care
Without self-care, you risk experiencing caregiver burnout, which we will discuss afterward. To take care of yourself, try to engage in mindfulness exercises, pursue hobbies, and incorporate regular physical activity into your routine. In between your duties, try to have a short 10 to 15-minute break for relaxation, which can make a significant difference in your caregiving journey.
If the responsibility of caregiving becomes too much to handle, you can experience caregiver burnout, which can manifest as constant exhaustion, irritable mood, neglecting personal care and health, difficulty sleeping, and more. Our most vital advice from this list of caregiving tips in 2024 is to address these early signs before they become a bigger problem. Remember, taking care of yourself is an act of love for yourself and your loved one.
Addressing burnout can be done by taking time to care for yourself and finding support from other caregivers who have been walking in your shoes through local support groups or online communities. By sharing experiences, exchanging tips, and offering mutual support, you will find comfort in knowing you are not alone in this caregiving journey. If those efforts still leave you feeling overwhelmed, consider seeking professional help.
3. Personalized Care Plans
The next one of our caregiving tips in 2024 is to assess your loved one’s physical, emotional, and social needs. Start by answering some questions, such as ‘Can they walk by themselves or do they need assistance?’, ‘do they have cognitive problems or get confused?’ or ‘Can they care for themselves?’. After you have your answer, involve them in discussing their feelings and expectations to keep your loved one’s autonomy.
Once you understand their unique needs and desires, create a customized care plan that takes into account their routines, medication requirements, hobbies, and other leisure activities. Also, provide details of any assistance required for each task. Remember to be flexible as the needs change over time.
4. Nutrition and Hydration Best Practices
As your loved ones get older, they may have problems like losing their appetite, having trouble chewing or eating, and losing their sense of smell or taste. But they need a lot of essential nutrients, like protein to keep their muscles strong, calcium and vitamin D to keep their bones healthy, fiber to keep their digestive system healthy, and B vitamins to keep their energy up and their brains working well.
One of our top 5 caring tips for 2024 is to make sure that older people have well-balanced meals that include fruits, veggies, lean meats, and whole carbs. There are many soft food options for people who have trouble eating, such as mashed potatoes, soft fish, well-cooked veggies, or Greek yogurt with smoothies.
5. Staying Informed and Educated
Now, it’s easier than ever for you, as a caregiver, to keep learning. Various online courses and certifications are available so you can enhance your caregiving skills and improve your quality of care. Many organizations offer training in areas such as Practical Skills Training for Caregivers, from Family Caregiver Alliance to more specialized skills for Being A Dementia Caregiver.
To stay updated with the latest health tips and practices that can significantly improve your loved one’s quality of life, read articles from reputable sources like The National Institute on Aging on topics such as the aging brain’s effects on thinking and exercising with chronic conditions.
Lastly, it would help if you also learned about the rights and responsibilities of the people you care for and yourself. Moreover, you need to be able to communicate, come prepared to medical appointments with relevant information, and know how to navigate the healthcare system to be the advocate of your loved one.
End Note
There you have it, our top 5 caregiving tips in 2024 that emphasize the use of technology, the importance of mental health and self-care, nutrition practices for your loved ones, and education for caregivers as a tool to help you give the best care possible for your loved ones. Remember, effective caregiving is about managing your life while caring for your elderly parent or loved one. It’s a balance that requires continuous learning and adaptation.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or need professional guidance, don’t hesitate to contact An Answered Prayer Home Care for a free consultation. Our team will happily provide valuable insights and support to help you navigate your caregiving journey in 2024 and beyond.
