How to “UNPLUG” from Caregiving

You’re a long-term caregiver for your parents and you are getting more than a little burned out. A friend tells you that her family is unable to use a five day beach home reservation that they’ve already paid for. They’ve offered you the package, since they don’t want it wasted, but your first instinct is to say no.

While you could ask for time off at your office job, who would care for your parents? Even if you could arrange care, how would you be able to go without being mired in guilt and mentally stuck back home?

Thanks to the caregiver “fix it” mentality, you probably won’t be able to totally avoid some concern about what is happening at home. But it may be possible that you can, with planning, take advantage of a break and come home refreshed.

While each caregiving situation is unique and the idea that you will be worry free during your trip or vacation is a bit optimistic, there are steps you can take to prepare for a good time.

Practical suggestions that you can tailor to your family’s needs:

1. Recognize that you deserve a break. No matter how much you love your care receiver(s), the daily routine can be exhausting and mind numbing. Sometimes you just need a break from caregiving. As with any job, paid or unpaid, a rest from the daily grind rejuvenates the body, mind and spirit. Realize that your care receiver(s) will, whether or not they realize it ahead of time, reap the benefits of a happier, more rested you.
2. Plan, plan, plan. The more you feel you’ve done all you can do to ensure a smooth transition, the more relaxed you’ll be while you are away. Call an in-home agency, preferably one recommended by friends, and set up an interview with them. If you are satisfied, make arrangements for a caregiver to go to your parent’s home for whatever time you feel is needed. If a nursing home or assisted living is part of the picture, obviously you will have to coordinate with them.
3. Make sure they have their medications. One of the toughest parts of planning can be having prescriptions filled because insurance generally makes people wait pretty close to the cutoff time before obtaining refills. However, do everything you can to make sure that the medications needed are up to date and then arrange to have someone to mail or pick up whatever you couldn’t have filled.
4. Stock up on staples. If you’ve been grocery shopping for your parents, you know what they need. Paper towels, toilet paper and facial tissues don’t spoil. Make sure to leave plenty around and that they know where to find such items. Special soap? Get two. Same with shampoo and other personal items. They’ll feel more secure even if your trip is short.
5. Prepare meals ahead of time. Stock up on easy to cook food, or make meals ahead of time and freeze them for your parents. Much depends on how independent they are, but if you make everything easy, you’ll feel better about leaving them for awhile. Arrange for Meals-on-Wheels for daily meal delivery if they would like that. Have the hired caregiver keep track of needed groceries and go to the store or have them take your parents if that has been your pattern.
6. Discuss laundry. If you do their laundry or if there are stairs to a basement laundry room that may not be safe, put laundry on the list for the hired caregiver to do. The same goes for light housekeeping and dishes. Arrange some method, paid help or other family members, to do what you would usually do.
7. Get them an alarm. I can’t emphasize enough how helpful a personal alarm worn by your parent can be. Even if you have two parents at home, signing them up for personal alarms is a good idea. They are worn on the wrist or as a pendant. If you already have a system and you are the first responder, make sure to change that designation to someone who will be available to respond while you are away. If your parents know a neighbor fairly well, ask the neighbor if he or she can be the contact person for a short time. The first responder just needs to be able to investigate a situation. They can then tell the dispatcher for the service if 9-1-1 is needed, so the first responder doesn’t have to be strong or even able bodied.
8. Don’t forget the outside. Arrange lawn care or snow clearing ahead of time if that service isn’t already in place.
9. Have a way to get in touch. These days, Skype can be a good connection for computer savvy elders and traveling adult children to stay in communication. Remember, though, you are doing this to unplug. I’d suggest that, if possible, you ask the paid caregivers and the neighbor or another nearby person to only contact you in a true emergency. Alternately, if you feel you simply must talk daily—perhaps if your elder is isolated—then call or set up Skype for a specified period of time. This is something you have to work out for yourself. Additionally, you can pre-address note cards to send so your parents get mail from you. This is something I did on a rare getaway. I even mailed one card from home so that my parents had a card the day after I left. The notes made them feel like I was in contact, yet it was a small detail for me and didn’t distract from my good time.
10. Make a list and check it as often as you need to. Does it cover everything you can think of that your loved ones may need? If so, follow the advice of counselors and support groups and mentally detach from the home situation while you are away.

Detaching may be the hardest step, but unless you do so, you aren’t really taking a vacation. Admitting that you need a break is key to helping you recognize, prevent and avoid caregiver burnout. You can’t control what will happen tomorrow. You can’t control how your parents will react to your absence. But you can control (to some degree) your worry, because that stems from your attitude.  Credit: Bursack/AgingCare