Caring for your loved one’s caregivers

​National Caregivers Day is recognized every February. The purpose of the occasion is to draw attention to the selfless work caregivers do all over the country. Melody Living Lake in the Hills’ assisted living and memory care community are grateful for our caregivers. Here are a few ways family members can show appreciation for their loved ones’ caregiver this month.

 
Listen to your loved one’s caregiver
Caregivers spend a tremendous amount of time with residents. Caregivers provide personal care, physical and emotional support to residents all year long. They are often the first to notice if a resident if experiencing
an illness or even having a bad day. When given the opportunity to talk to your loved one’s caregiver – it is best to not just talk, but listen. Ask questions because caregivers are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to providing the best support for your senior loved one.

Provide them with support
Our team of caregivers at Melody Living Lake in the Hills generates creative activities to promote the Eight Dimensions of Wellness. A resident favorite is coupon clipping. The act of coupon clipping is memorable because most residents have done it in the past or remember their parents doing it when they were a child.
 
Our caregivers collect coupons they receive in the mail, and from magazines or newspapers. Residents use an inexpensive pair of safety scissors and cut and clip away. Coupon clipping gives our memory care residents a sense of purpose through an adult activity that they may be familiar with.
 
It’s ideal to give our residents the feeling that what they're doing is helping. When the coupons are all clipped, we place them in the employee break room for staff to choose which coupons they could use. It’s a win-win. The next time you engage with your loved one’s caregiver, ask what activities are coming up and if any special supplies are needed.

Give gratitude​
Saying thank you is the simplest and most sincere way to show appreciation for caregivers. The next time you make a visit or call our assisted living and memory care community, take a moment to let your loved one’s caregiver know what they mean to you. This is vital because our senior loved ones living with dementia and other health challenges might not be capable of showing gratitude.
 
National Caregivers Day is Friday February 18th this year. Melody Living Lake in the Hills prides itself on ensuring we have the most dedicated, educated, and compassionate caregivers to provide loving support for our residents. For more information on amenities we provide, give us a call today at 847.957.7070.