Planning For When You May Need a Caregiver

Who's Got Your Back

We’ve talked about planning for someone to pay your bills and handle your mail if you need help. This back-up plan is about the stuff of daily life. If you are elderly or are facing some major health issues, who will be there to pick up some groceries, take you to a doctor’s appointment, or just sit with you for an afternoon when you’ve come home from the hospital? These can be stressful, upsetting questions to face.

Your friend may have a gazillion children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren all living within a ten mile radius of her home. And, your sister may live in one of those fantasy neighborhoods with a slew of neighbors ready to pitch in at a moment’s notice. Yes, you’re allowed to have a five minute pity party for yourself if you don’t. Then, start to come up with a plan.

Talk to friends, people in your church/synagogue, and the help in the doctor’s office - anyone you can think of. Many times they know someone looking to make some extra money. Getting some names and talking to them well in advance means you can implement a plan quickly.

Learn about the different types of agencies and the services they offer. Know which supply nurses and aides vs. those that drive to appointments and put a meal on the table. Do the research now.

Give some thought to the concept of ‘pay it forward’. Think about volunteering or getting involved in a community organization now. Hopefully by helping others now, others will help you if and when you need it.

The reality is most people don’t like to ask for help. Or, when people ask ‘what can I do’, it may be hard to have an answer for such a broad question. Or, a lot of people offer to help at the beginning of an illness or problem and then slowly (or maybe not so slowly) the offers of help stop.

Before you need it, really think about how you’ll cope with a variety of situations, be they of a temporary or permanent nature.