The Golden Rule of Caring for the Elderly

Many baby boomers are suddenly finding themselves caring for an elderly parent or loved one. It wasn't something planned for it just happened. Most who find themselves in this situation haven't got a clue where to start. They find themselves thrown into deep waters and no time to learn how to swim. Just pick themselves up and run as fast as they can. There are no courses to teach you everything you need to know, no guide that can tell you how to react to every situation.

Each caregiver has to find his or her own footing when caring for the elderly, and then translate that into a level on which you feel comfortable in order to be effective. However, there is one golden rule that you should follow and adopt as your private philosophy - always establish a routine and never underestimate its power!

Routines can help you create a bond with that loved one under your care. The senior will find great comfort and security in an ordered life. A routine will also make your life much easier as well. But before you can establish a meaningful daily routine it is important to understand the person you are caring for.

Getting to know this person shouldn't be as difficult with a family member as it might be with a complete stranger. Some elderly people hate certain parts of the care that you have to impose on them. Finding common ground with each other will go a long way to making a meaningful routine work for both of you. An effective routine is always based on mutual interests and compromise.

Any attempt at creating a meaningful routine no matter how effective it may be will eventually fail if the person you are trying to care for repeatedly bucks and sabotages it. Your job will be much easier when you take the time to know and understand not only the physical needs of the elderly person but the mental, emotional and spiritual needs too. By taking time to establish this kind of relationship you will establish trust. The goal is build the trust first and then the routine.

When you have taken the time to build a relationship based on mutual trust and then established a good routine you will have a stabilizing effect on the elderly person you are caring for. This in itself will make your long term working relationship with them so much happier and less stressful.

A good stable routine will help you remember what you need to do and when, and it will also help the senior to remember what her or she has to do as well. Repeatedly doing the same thing over and over can give an immense sense of comfort to the senior because there is nothing unexpected thrown in to upset them.

Most people don't like change and get stressed out when they have to change against his or her will. This is even more so with the elderly. It is very upsetting not knowing what is happening in your own world and can be very frightening not having any say in any of these changes. But a solid routine can help to relieve this fear and stress and in some cases avoid it altogether.

The familiar can give seniors a sense that they have some sort of control over their lives and can be used effectively to this end by caregivers. It can take months to build up an effective routine, but once it is in place, you will be loathed to deviate from it.

It should be expected that you would face some initial rebellion when you are establishing anything new. It will take perseverance to establish a routine but don't give up until you have it in place. This golden rule will pay off in great dividends. It will give you a measure of control without taking away the elderly person's independence. It can cut out unnecessary stress.

And once established it will ultimately be worth the effort and both the caregiver and receiver will fully appreciate it. So if you have found yourself thrust into the role of a caregiver for a senior you will not regret establishing the Golden Rule for Taking Care of the Elderly.