It’s not easy to care for somebody at home, but it’s even harder to support somebody who’s doing the caring.
Whether you volunteered your time or you’ve offered to bring them some assistance while they are busy juggling working from home or looking after a parent and their own children at the same time, you need to do what you can to support the carers around you.
They are likely to be burned out. There is no limit on the amount of time that you can give them and there is nothing too small you can offer.
Burnout is no joke and whether it’s a text message to let them know that they have you to lean on, if they need to vent or its physical support, then you need to do what you can to support carers around you.
They may not know they can get live in care to help them, but that level of support can help! So, here’s how you can support the carers in your life:
Don’t judge them
It’s very easy to see that their homes may be messy, but if they’re busy caring for others around them, then don’t judge that.
Instead of seeing the dust and commenting on it and seeing the unwashed plates and commenting on those, pick up a brush, pick up a broom and get scrubbing.
Sometimes the daily tasks get put on the back burner when there are other people that take priority.
Give them some time
One of the biggest gifts that you could give a carer is giving them their time back. Take over for the day in doing all of their caring duties and let them go and run their own errands or even just wash their own hair for a change.
You can offer to do the shopping for them and you can take the list and get the things done, but sometimes having the space to just do that can be everything that they need to feel like they can reset.
Offer something small
If you want to give them something powerful, it’s a small gesture that you start with. Bringing them food when they’re at a hospital appointment with the loved one.
Making sure that you hire a cleaner so that they can have their house cleaned from top to bottom before they get home. Sending flowers to let them know that you’re thinking of them.
These might be small gestures on the surface, but to somebody who’s busy caring for others, it can be everything.
Don’t wait to be asked
Offering help is always a nice idea, but carers may not take you up on that offer. They might feel bad for bothering you with their problems.
Instead, offer things that you know need to be done. Maybe their kids need to collect from sports. Maybe their food shopping needs picking up.
See the gaps that you can fill and step into them.
Sometimes carers will refuse help, but you’re not really asking in the first place.