Caregiver's Enthusiasm Can Spark An Elderly Senior's Interests Again

As a paid caregiver on rows of 24 hour stand-by-assist shifts, sometimes for weeks at a time, I've tried to make the days interesting for elderly seniors I assist. An enthusiastic caregiver can be the spark and the friend who starts activity rolling again if a senior is confined at home and has lost interest in usual activities. A "Beauty Parlor Day", a "Health Spa Day" , or a " Restaurant or Cafe' at Home" day can be activities for a caregiver and a senior to share for enjoyment.

Making a special event out of "Jeopardy" time, with snacks and beverages adds to a "party" atmosphere. Watching old movies on the Turner Classic Movie station with "we're at the movies popcorn" makes it an event to brighten up the day.

There can also be "Life History" time and Genealogy time. Hearing about someone's ancestors can start both of us making family trees and sharing stories.

If the weather is nice then sitting on a porch, patio or deck is an option. If an elderly senior uses a walker or wheelchair the porches and patios are still accessible and this outdoor time can make the day more pleasant. Breakfast with a newspaper, or one of the other meals outdoors as a "picnic" can be a treat.

When a 24 hour caregiver is on long rows of shifts without a break it can be helpful to make each day a little different for the elderly person. Keeping a calender of upcoming activities has helped me plan and provides an upbeat anticipation from day to day. Sunday afternoon might be oldies but goodies movie time, Saturday might have a favorite show on, and the middle of the week might have other special events.

Listening to audiobooks of interesting autobiographies and biographies has been an activity some people have enjoyed also. When audiobooks are not available sometimes I get one of the person's favorite books and read out loud. Listening to musical classics, often from the 40's and 50's is another activity some seniors enjoy.

Some of my favorite times assisting seniors have been when we have joined up to start a project together. Several have joined with me in creating their own private version of a "university" at home, and naming it after themselves, too. Of course, everybody graduates.

On rows of 24 hours shifts it helps to make each day have some variety for both the senior and the caregiver. Looking ahead in the TV Guide for shows and movies that an elderly person would enjoy helps create a schedule days ahead of time to look forward to and the shows can be marked on the calender.

One person in her 90's told me she used to like creative writing. She started thinking of writing again, and had a poem published in the newspaper's poetry feature. It was exciting for both of us to see her name in print, and the poem was beautiful.

Home style cooking and preparing meals to freeze for the upcoming week is sometimes "Cafe' (insert senior's last name) the Famous Restaurant." Some of this might sound silly, but often we turn ordinary days into days with a "party" this way. As a paid caregiver on rows of 24 hour shifts I have always been trying to think up new ideas for activities.

Asking questions led to a project with one senior that included studying religious and philosophical material from a university that we found in the storage room. She remembered the professors from long ago and told me about the classes. We also found some newspapers that were 50 years old and we had a great time reading those and discussing them.

Another told me some hilarious escapades that included climbing the town water tower as a young rambunctious redhead, and she made a recording of the story.

Alone, they did not have the motivation to start these projects, but with an interested caregiver providing enthusiasm they got old interests revived, and I had an enjoyable time too.

Asking people questions about their life history helps them to remember things that trigger more memories. Questioning and listening can lead to digging up favorite interests that have been long forgotten. Sometimes seniors have been alone and isolated.

The caregiver can be the spark and the friend who gets enthusiasm rolling again.

Tips for Overnight Caregivers

Good preparation for overnight caregiver shifts can help make the time shared by a caregiver and senior to be comfortable and enjoyable. One of the couples I have assisted used to say "welcome home!" as I came in the door. It was a great feeling.

Tips for overnight caregivers start with keeping a bag packed ahead of time. Sometimes a caregiver can be called at the last minute for a 24 hour shift.

I keep a lightweight sleeping bag, pillows, overnight personal supplies, and non-perishable food items packed in my car for overnight caregiving.

The sleeping bag means I don't need to use the client's bed linens and launder them in the morning on the day before I leave. Having my own pillows helps me to sleep better because it's more like being in my own home.

The overnight caregiver accommodations might be a bed, a couch in a living room, or a camping cot if the need for a caregiver came up suddenly.

Sometimes there is a danger that someone might get out of bed in the night alone and fall. If so, then someone puts an extra bed in the room for me so I am there to prevent falls. Even with bedrails some people climb out of bed and fall, but a caregiver in the room can act in time to prevent this.

Some instant coffee or tea, creamora, and packages of nutritious instant foods are part of my caregiver's overnight pack. Protein bars, cereal, soups, and nutrition drinks have been useful. On the way it's easy to stop for milk or other refrigerated foods. Even though clients often provide food for the caregiver, it's frequent that the caregivers need to bring their own to satisfy their preferences. Many seniors are on limited diets and I find it's often better to bring my own meals.

I also have a digital clock with an alarm that can be set if I need to get up to provide care for a senior client at certain times during the night.

Other useful items include some books, audiobooks, videos, puzzles or games, and a cell phone. Audiobooks and videos that meet the requests of the senior I am assisting can add a highlight to the day for people who are housebound.

Local libraries have free CD's, books on tape, videos, and DVD's and a caregiver can pick up titles or authors that a senior has requested. Some of the favorites have been travel, family humor, and biographies.

On rows of 24 hour shifts there might be periods of busy activity alternating with times of sitting and providing companionship. Having some good books with me helps pass the time when things are quiet. Arts or crafts can help to pass the time also. I sketch landscapes from photos in magazines.

My grandmother, who lived on the opposite side of the country, used to hire caregivers for what she called "sitting" because she was lonely and enjoyed the company. Many of her "sitters" knitted or crocheted. One used quiet companionship time to sew heart shaped pillows by hand with artistic embroidery and lace added. Gram developed close friendships with her caregivers and they enjoyed talking and sharing experiences.

Sometimes I am called at the last minute when another caregiver has had an emergency and it helps to simply keep these items in the car so I can leave at a moment's notice.

Having the items in an overnight supply pack makes a 24 hour caregiving shift more like being in my own home. This reduces stress and I can share an enjoyable time with the senior whom I am assisting.