8 Ways to Make Care Tasks Simpler

Many people who care for older adults and those with disabilities report high levels of burnout, a condition resulting from prolonged stress and causing depressive and anxious symptoms. The problem becomes even more severe among non-professionals tending to the needs of family members with children of their own. What can you do to ease some of the pressure? 

Fortunately, some simple hacks can dramatically change your daily chore load. Here are eight ways to make care tasks simpler. 

1. Elevate Your Appliances

You might not recognize all the bending you do pushing and pulling soiled sheets in and out of the dryer — but your lower back does. Caregiving work can take a toll on your body. All the lifting you do can add up and the additional mobility required for reaching appliances only worsens matters. 

Fortunately, making simple adjustments isn’t too challenging, like adding a laundry cabinet with adjustable interior shelves that let you place items at the proper heights for your convenience. Step stools and grabbers enable you to reach things on high shelves without straining or injuring your shoulders. 

Do you have a bit more cash on hand? If so, consider upgrading. A large capacity washer and dryer can handle sheets and blankets in one swoop. Protect your investment and prevent dryer fires by cleaning the lint trap every time. Doing so also increases your energy efficiency, saving money and the planet. Why stop at laundry? A robotic vacuum can cut your cleaning time considerably. 

2. Improve Your Flooring

Pushing a wheelchair or walker over plush shag carpeting is like navigating the thickets of a swamp without a machete — it’s difficult and sure to cause strain. Furthermore, cleanup becomes a nightmare if the person you care for has pets that hack up the occasional hairball. 

Your best bet for flooring is Pergo or vinyl laminate with a quality underlayment beneath it. Why are such surfaces preferable? They make it a snap to navigate with mobility aids and the added cushioning protects fragile bones should falls occur. 

3. Get Meal Delivery

Cooking might be something you love, but it can quickly become another chore on your list. Maintain your passion and keep your sanity by subscribing to a meal delivery service. 

Why are programs like Hello Fresh and Blue Apron so popular today? Consider some of the benefits you could enjoy: 

• Portion control: Caregivers need to ensure their patients get sufficient calorie intake. Meal delivery kits provide perfectly proportioned foods that get them what they need without going overboard. 

• Nutritional balance: Nutritional support is part of many caregiving programs. You can find delivery kits specially designed for vegan diets, low-carb eating plans and those that cater to nearly any dietary restriction. 
• Predictable pricing: Caregiving can take a toll on your budget. Meal delivery standardizes what you spend on groceries. 

4. Employ Soothing Gadgets

People with chronic illnesses often have comorbid mental health struggles like anxiety and depression. While you might empathize with how they feel, their conditions can sometimes make their behavior a bit erratic and hard to deal with. Numerous gadgets can help soothe patients when bad episodes strike — what works best varies by person. 

Some people respond well to aromatherapy misters, especially pretty ones with a color-changing LED display and soothing white noise. Others might prefer a favorite blanket or stuffed toy, coloring pages or even binge-watching a beloved movie they’ve already seen a dozen times. Keep these at the ready in your arsenal. 

5. Learn How to Lift

This message bears repeating — care tasks can take a toll on your body. The rule multiplies when your patient is too heavy for you to lift but too infirm to get up independently. 

Learn how to lift without straining your back. Keep the following guidelines in mind when assisting your patient: 

• Keep your neck and head aligned with your spine and maintain your lower back’s natural curvature. 
• Pull the patient close to your body, widening your stance and using the big muscles of your legs to perform most of the work. 
• Avoid twisting motions while moving patients. 
• Ask the patient to assist you as much as possible. 

6. Talk to Their Insurer

You might not have to go about caregiving alone. Some insurance plans offer coverage for in-house nursing care that can ease your burden. 

How do you find out if your patient qualifies? Contact their insurance carrier. If they’re on Medicare, a supplement may help — contact various carriers during open enrollment to explore your options. 

7. Enlist Help

Caregivers can burn out. To avoid overwhelm, enlist help from the patient’s other family members. 

Even distant relatives can assist from afar. Remember the meal delivery tip? If you’re overburdened financially, consider asking them if they could help with the costs. 

8. Stay Organized

Finally, care tasks often involve running your patient to various doctor and therapy appointments. How can you stay on top of it all, especially if you have another job or raise a family? 

Invest in a planner — either old-fashioned paper or an electronic app. Each Sunday, sit down and chart your week, making a to-do list for each day. Review these at the end of each day, adjusting entries as necessary. 

Making Care Tasks Easier 

Caregiving can be overwhelming. It can even lead to burnout.  

Follow the eight tips above to make care tasks simpler. You could end up a lot happier and provide a higher quality of care.