You have decided to take care of your sick loved one in the comfort of your own home, yet you are finding yourself drained – physically, mentally and financially. Private caregiving is one of the many options you can consider, but some of these options may overwhelm you. Geri Meissenheimer, founder of personal caregiving service Geri-atrics, provides insight into the various options of personal care and what to consider when taking on the responsibility.
She suggests, when deciding to opt for private care, firstly finding out as much as one can about the disease itself. Has your loved one just suffered a stroke, or has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s or suffers from one of the many types of dementia? Find out as much as you can as it will determine how long you may need to take care of your loved one.
Meissenheimer shares that in her experience some family members make decisions based on short-term considerations, without any view on the long term. For example, your loved one lives with dementia, you need to be cognizant of how their dementia will progress.
“Find out as much information you can about the type of dementia your loved one has as you can, something that can be distressing sometimes,” Meissenheimer points out, “for one does not know how fast or slow, and when they regress you may find yourself stuck. So a short-term and long-term view of the situation is key to your decision.”
Her second tip is, when it comes to private caregiving it is best to be on good terms with other family members, as you will need as much support as one can get. She explains: “In my experience I have found the caregiving process is more efficient when the family members are on the same page regarding the care of the patient and the way forward.”
Thirdly, in terms of finances, one needs to decide how you are going to spend and how much you want to spend on your loved one’s care. There are toiletries such as diapers, possible various bedding solutions, medication, and so on.
Meissenheimer explains that a fairly accurate assessment of the recovery rate of the patient gives one a good indicator on how much money to spend on day-to-day toiletry necessities.
For instance, depending on the stroke patient’s age there is the possibility of recovery. An elderly stroke patient is less likely to make a full recovery than a younger stroke patient. “With a stroke patient one takes things on a day-to-day basis because one needs to consider their mobility on that specific day,” she explains. Whereas with a dementia patient there are long-term costs to consider.
The next factor to consider is making the necessary remodelling changes to the bathroom and bedroom. She says those with mobile issues, especially those who suffered a stroke, often need more help when it comes to use of the bathroom. When you have someone with dementia, however, there are many changes you need to make, and therefore more money and costs will have to be kept in mind long-term. She explains when having a dementia patient in one’s home one needs to consider all the possible dangers surrounding them as they are more prone to accidents.
“You should put knives away, steps will have to change, and you should add bars at a stairway. Add a bar at the side of bed against the wall so they can lift themselves. You should remodel your bathroom to make it safer, buy a shower chair if you are to shower your patient. Just in general, look at what dangers there are, as walking becomes a problem.”
She does, however, state that despite all the additional fixtures one may add to one’s home one needs to encourage one’s patient to do things for themselves, with assistance whenever needed. “If you are going to baby them they will fall into a comfort zone. You need to put things in place to help them help themselves.”
Permanent caregiver versus placing them in a nursing home?
Meissenheimer says there are benefits to having a permanent caregiver over putting a loved one in a nursing home. “If you have a very supportive family, a close-bonded family and a carer you trust you can have your loved one stay at home,” she said. “However, as time goes on and the disease progresses, having one permanent caregiver at home will become tiring for that one person. Your loved one will need 24-hour care, and it will become more expensive in the long run. Whereas putting someone in a frail-care facility will see them served by rotating carers. They will be fed, looked after all round and there is medical help where needed. Again I say, the family needs to think long-term and not short-term.”
But it really is up to the family and their circumstances which will allow them the opportunity to choose.
“If the family members and the sick loved one are conformable being at home, then go for it.”
Meissenheimer provides many families with much needed respite care and relief. Having trained at Oasis Training Centre with Tessia August in the caregiving industry, she has provided a service where there is a gap in the caregiving market.
“After hard lockdown, I stopped working as a manager at a frail care facility and I thought, what can I do to help people that cannot afford full time care but can afford a day-to-day or even hourly care.”
It was in this moment that she decided to offer her services to those who need a caregiver – not as a permanent caregiver but one that can provide a few hours to help you and give you some time off. “Even if you are going on holiday and need to leave your loved one at home, I can be there to look after them,” she explains.
“At Geri-atrics, I care for any elderly, frail, dementia, stroke patients on an hourly or day-to-day basis. Caregiving is a deep passion for me. I don’t ever think there is a patient too difficult for a carer. I take on anything that comes my way – any challenge that comes my way, I just go for it.”
Geri-atrics also provides caregiving consultancy, so if you need help in deciding what to do for your loved one, Meissenheimer will be able to help you.
You do not sign a long-term contract with her. Caregiving for a sick elderly patient is unpredictable so she makes it easier for you decide if you need the help and respite care. “You as the patient or family member can decide how many hours or days you need care for,” Meissenheimer says. “We take it day by day or hour by hour.”
In addition to that, she also helps caregivers who are unemployed, finding them caring work. She will book a caregiver if she is not available. She also works closely with Tulbagh House for placement in a frail care.
Top tips when looking after your frail and sick loved one:
. Spot check their body every day. . Shower every day. “Yes, they fight with you to shower, but they must shower every day. Encourage them to shower. Be patient. Never force. Positive reinforcement is key. Take you time. . Being the most loving and caring person with your patient will get you very far. “They might not remember you, but they will remember your energy,” Meissenheimer said. . “Be patient, love them and shower them with care. And having a smile on your face. At the end of the day, that is what they are pulling from you.”
