Family life is always busy and hectic, whether it is getting everyone up for breakfast and out in time for work or school. Not to mention the after school clubs and taxi of Mum and Dad. It is even harder when Taking Care Of A Loved One With A Disability
Now take on the added care of caring for someone with a disability. You have a lot more added work/stress however you want to word it. Whether it is your child, partner or parents. It means your day is a lot busier than normal. As you know C has a chronic illness, which is why I am sharing about taking care of a loved one with a disability.
Table of Contents
Organisation
I am often laughed at by my family for having an old school filofax. I honestly, could not cope without it. This has my life in it –
- Hospital Appointments
- Hospital Letters
- Reminders
- Informing others of upcomming appointments
Everything is put in my filofax so I have references to look back on, plus up coming appointments.
Daily Routine
Having a daily routine will make life a lot easier. For me I wake C up, times do differ depending on whether she is on her course or not that day. I start my day with a coffee and planning my day ahead. Sometimes setting reminders if we have appointments to go to.
Medication and Care
Although C, can manage her own medication now, with a little prompt at times from Mum. I need to keep on top of how much of her medication she has in. There have been times, in the past where she has told me she is on her last one and forgot to tell me (a common phrase she uses).
I also have to be on top of my Dad and his medication as he is forgetful since his stroke.
Have notes in your diary to contact your GP, The Oxygen Store, hospital for more supplies.
Time Out
Remember to take some time out for you. Being able to care for someone with a disability, takes a lot out of you mentally and physically. If you do not look after yourself, how can you care for someone else, who needs and relies on you.
Being a caregiver is alot of work. I love the tips that you shared here. These are practical and anyone can implement them. Having a time out is so important for the caregivers well being too!
It is a lot of work, which is why you need to be organised, but taking time out is just as important
This is such a great idea to really structure the day.
It really does help
Thank you for the great tips. I have found the fact that I have permission to access my mums doctor records online a godsend. It has made ordering prescriptions so much easier
Having a set routine really helps me take care of anyone and is such an important aspect. Thank you so much for sharing these tips.
Routine and organisation is the key to making things easier
You can’t beat a good filofax, it took me such a long time to go digital and even now I still like to write things down. But you’re so right organisation is so important x
I do have things digital as well but I like to have it there written down as so much easier to see what is going on
We should organize the things we need to do on a daily basis. It will help us save time.
It certainly helps me
Being organised in this kind of circumstance is definitely going to make things feel a little lighter
You have to be organised, even for when putting things in place or reviews you need to be on the ball
It sounds like you are very well organised when it comes to looking after your loved ones. I think it is so important to be organised.
Being organised and having everything written down and hospital letters etc to hand really is the key. Everything else just falls into place
A agree, keeping an organised calendar and diary for appointments is a must. It is also so important that the carer gets a rest too as it is all exhausting
I could not cope without my trusted filofax which has everything in it, and it is true the carer does need some time out as well
Yes, it is quite important to paper out your priorities and needs of the hour. With proper organization in hand, it gives you enough space to coordinate the process.
It helps to keep on track of everything
There can be a lot to keep on top of when looking after a family let alone when there is a loved one with a disability. Medication is important to be kept on top of especially as you mentioned when they only tell you they’ve run out when they’re on the last tablet. Typical of kids.
There is a lot to keep track on, but you do get into a routine of what is needed, it is more appointments, medication checks etc that needs to be kept track of
I don’t want to deny it, I don’t know in the least what this means because so far life hasn’t posed such a challenge on my path and for this I humbly admire people who like you find so much strength and organization to make it.
It is not strength, it is something you just do, it is a lot harder at the start getting your head around it all and obviously life changing path. But we just do it hopefully you will not have to be in this position, but if you are you will be amazed at how you just do it
This is amazing, sharing it…Although I do not take care of anyone with disabilities I can imagine the dedication this requires…Awesome tips….
Thank you
This is great advice, especially to take time for yourself.
The hardest part I found was taking time out for myself at the start, but realised I needed to
Taking time out to keep yourself healthy and sane is most important. That can be just a walk, taking the time to read a good book, going shopping for yourself…
it is, as it is so easy to forget about you, I learnt that the hard way
I think having a schedule prevents unexpected surprises and keeps you on track. It also helps with time management allowing you to find some ‘me’ time which is very important. Without organisation things can feel very rushed and that can create tension and anxiety which is never good for the carer or the person being cared for.
When you are doing things daily, it all falls into place, I do need my trusted filofax for appointments etc, and I go into panic if something is not in my diary. It does help make things smoother
Organisation is key – even then there maybe hurdles to jump
There are always hurdles to jump but organisation does help