5 Ways to Help an Isolated Caregiver Friend

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Help for Isolated Caregiver

Being a good friend means helping out when times are hard. While you know your friend is managing his or her responsibilities as best as possible, it’s also upsetting to watch as his or her whole life revolves around the caregiving role. When you think your friend is becoming isolated, use the following tips to help him or her stave off isolation.

1. Put Together a Caregiver Basket

Your friend may not be able to get out of the house often, but you can show you care through offering a tangible reminder of your love. Find a basket and fill it up with little trinkets that help your friend stay healthy and relax. Scented lotions, healthy snacks, and motivational books are just a few ideas for small gifts your friend can use to relax throughout the day. Your friend will be touched that you thought of him or her and feel supported every time he or she uses something from the basket.

Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Lincoln Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.

2. Don’t Add to the Guilt

Caregivers are often filled with guilt regarding all of the things they feel like they should be doing but don’t have the time for. While you want to continue to ask your friend to do things, avoid putting too much pressure on him or her. When there is an event you want to invite your friend to, simply provide the details and say you understand if he or she cannot attend.

3. Make Specific Offers of Help

Your friend may want to invite you over but has too many chores to tackle. Let your friend know you’d love to come over and spend time doing one of them as a shared activity. For instance, you could enjoy a chat as you fold clothes together or clean out a closet. You’ll help your friend accomplish a chore and get to socialize at the same time. 

Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Lincoln, CA, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Home Care Assistance. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.

4. Offer to Take Your Friend Out

Caregivers sometimes become isolated because they don’t have time to do all of the prep work involved with having someone come over. If you suspect your friend is constantly behind on housework or doesn’t have time to cook, offer to take him or her out. Help your friend find a respite caregiver to watch his or her loved one while he or she takes a much-needed break for socializing.

5. Keep Checking In

When your friend is a caregiver, you can expect to have several invitations turned down before he or she finally accepts an offer to get together. Make sure to continue to call your friend regularly, and don’t take the inability to see you personally. Send regular texts and social media updates about what is happening with your circle of friends. Making sure your friend remains in the loop allows him or her to seamlessly reenter your social circle when ready.

Families who need help caring for a senior loved one can turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of Lincoln home care. Services available in our customizable care plans include meal prep, mental and social stimulation, assistance with personal hygiene tasks, and much more. To learn more about our comprehensive senior care plans, call us at (916) 226-3737.

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