10. Make sure that paperwork is perfect.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve talked to me recently, I\u2019m confident I told you this is one of the top things I\u2019ve learned since caring for my grandmother. Certainly, making sure everyone\u2019s affairs are in order is stressful in the here and now, but it will give you immeasurable peace of mind in the future. It is worth the awkward and difficult conversations to know that everything is in place. Consider consulting an estate planning attorney to review your loved one\u2019s final wishes (as well as your own, to be honest \u270b). THis includes reviewing or creating a will, Durable Power of Attorney, Medical Power of Attorney, and other legal documents that make transferring assets easier when a loved one passes or life changes. I found 12 Conversations: How To Talk to Almost Anyone About Long-Term Care Planning<\/a> by legal expert and attorney, Cathy Sikorski, especially helpful (and humorous \ud83d\ude09) <\/p>\n\n\n\n 9. Use a calendar.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It seems like a no-brainer, but when you can look at how your (and\/or your loved one\u2019s) time is being spent, it makes it easier to find ways to save time and plan ahead for things like family events, social activities, and taking a break. Back in my caregiving days, I created a Google calendar for myself and one for my grandma. When I added caregiver hours and social activities to her calendar and laid it over mine, it was much easier to see where the gaps in coverage were. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 8. Auto refill<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Even despite prior caregiving experience, the calamity surrounding the onset of my caregiving responsibilities made life so stressful I couldn’t recall things I knew dang well about medication administration and management. It took a while, but after making a million different trips to the pharmacy over the course of the month, getting all of the medications on auto-refill and refilling at the same time, made my life so much easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 7. Auto or online bill pay <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I began taking care of my grandma, she was either writing checks and mailing them or paying them all in person. Since she needed my help with that, it made sense for us to use online bill pay. In the beginning, we sat down once a month and used auto bill pay, so she could participate. Later on, as she lost the ability to keep track of what was going on in that department, I set them up to come out of her account automatically (yes, I said HER account, but we\u2019ll talk about that another time)… and BAM! I recovered an hour of time each month in which we could do something more valuable, or at least more fun.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Make a menu\/plan meals ahead of time<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When you become responsible for an older loved one or a person with a disability, nutrition is a major concern. It\u2019s not easy to put meals together if you are having trouble getting around, remembering how to do things, or just don\u2019t feel awesome. The burden of ensuring our loved ones are receiving adequate meals often falls on us caregivers. I hope you\u2019re not boffing at me when I tell you that making a menu in advance (however far out that looks like for you) will make your life so much easier. Figuring out what to eat often takes entirely too much time, even if you enjoy cooking or meal planning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Grocery pickup <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You know what else is a huge time sucker? GROCERY SHOPPING. My mom (rest her soul), asked me for about five years straight why I didn\u2019t get the groceries delivered or use grocery pickup. In my pre-covid caregiving life, my grandma was able to be on her own for short periods of time. Our routine meant Grandma resting after church while I went to the grocery store. Since I had a meal plan, which meant I had a list, I was able to maneuver through that store like Speedy Gonzales\u2026 and I also got a break from her and time to decompress after taking her to church, which was often very stressful for me. HOWEVER, once we were confined to our new home here after Covid began, I realized all the hours of my life I wasted and can never get back because I spent so much time going to the store. So, people\u2026 if your time is limited, and if you\u2019re caring for a loved one, I know just how precious it is\u2026. quit wasting your time grocery shopping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Meal delivery (I\u2019m not talking about DoorDash\u2026 although there\u2019s nothing wrong with that)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What I\u2019m talking about is nutritious, balanced meals that arrive pre-prepared. In most cases, they are fresh or just need to be reheated. This is especially helpful if your loved one is able to be on their own and get around their home safely. Personally, I let our pride get in the way of setting up meal delivery for my grandma, but as a person who\u2019s delivered meals through community programs, I can tell you that they are wonderful services and truly SAVE LIVES. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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