How to Have More Time for Your Elderly Family Member

How to manage your time in and out of work to have more time to care for your elderly relative

Spending time with your elderly relative is important, whether they need regular attention and company or simply the company of someone they love. But it’s not always easy to find the time when you also have to worry about your job, especially a demanding one with long commutes and/or rush hour departures. Between that and other obligations you may have, it sometimes seems like there’s no time left at all. But that’s not always true, and to demonstrate this, here are some tips on how to better manage your time so you can spend more time with your elderly relative.

Develop a schedule

Take note of how many hours it takes to perform each task, whether work-related, personal, or caregiving, and what time is most suitable for performing that task, and create a schedule based on this information. The process can also involve the elderly person’s help, and their contribution can result in a program that is equally beneficial for both of you.

Make a list of priorities

Organize each task by order of importance, which is important for deciding what to do next and, when you don’t have time to complete all tasks, to ensure that you at least address the most important ones.

Make use of digital and/or analogical tools

You can take advantage of various platforms to organize both your to-do list and your schedule. These include notebooks and calendars, which can be used both on paper and digitally. You can also use alarms to be aware of the time and receive reminders of when it’s time to perform certain tasks.

Start with the simpler tasks

There are certain tasks that may not be the most important, but can be completed quickly. Starting with these tasks helps to get them done at once and can prevent tasks from piling up on your to-do list.

Manage your expectations

Sometimes there are tasks that take longer than we’d like and activities we wish we had more time for, but it’s important to be realistic and to not force time. Make an objective estimate of how much time you need and/or have available for each task. Also, add a margin of error in case it takes longer than you thought, not to mention that taking less time is an opportunity to rest or to complete subsequent tasks ahead of schedule.

Be wary of setbacks

Things don’t always go according to plan, no matter how well planned they are. Therefore, it’s important to develop contingency plans and/or be able to improvise an immediate solution. Even if it’s not the most effective solution, it’s better than nothing.

Take advantage of corporate support

Some companies may adopt flexible work policies to ensure their employees work the same hours without having to worry about their other responsibilities. If this is the case, you can take advantage of these policies, which include flexible working hours (including leaving before or after rush hour) and remote work (which can allow you to work while caring for your elderly relative or eliminate commuting time between the workplace and the residence, whether yours or the elderly person’s).

Ask other relatives for help

Caring for your elderly relative doesn’t have to be something you handle alone. If there’s another family member or friend who can act as an informal caregiver, you can alternate with them or you can work together and delegate tasks.

Stimulate the Elder Person’s independence

Despite appearances, the dependence that elderly people have on others is not immutable, nor is it something that many seniors like, since they highly value their autonomy. With this in mind, it’s possible to implement various measures to encourage an elderly person’s independence, including training them to perform simpler and more accessible tasks and involving them in decision-making. This, in turn, reduces the time you need to care for your elderly relative, leaving more time for yourself or even to spend more time with your elderly relative outside of a caregiver context.

Even after all these measures are taken, there may be times when you are not available to care for your elderly relative when they need you. But don’t worry, because KindCare can take your place as a caregiver whenever you need it. Contact us on this website or with the number 960 139 517 to learn more.