All About Estates

Attitude of Gratitude

An ‘attitude of gratitude’  seems to be the mantra of the 2020 Masters Tournament commentators. Fans  are so happy to have the Masters on this year- albeit in November rather than April. It is a motto that more of us need. I would like to apply this positive attitude and acknowledgement to caregivers as this is National Family Caregivers Month. More than ever as this pandemic overshadows absolutely everything and everyone, caregivers are being tested and pushed to their limits.

Case in point, one morning last week I received an email that read: ‘My mother moved in with us in April… We can’t handle this!!!’

Family caregivers are being stressed to the maximum.  While I always advocate for respite- it is difficult to come by these days- without having to purchase private care.  Community day programs are all closed and while they may be offering some virtual programming, supervision may still be required.  If you are going the route of purchasing private care, I always recommend that these care hours be provided by a reputable home care company.  You want to verify that:

  • The Personal Support Worker (PSW) has the appropriate training
  • Has had their references and credentials checked
  • Have undergone a vulnerable persons check (from the police)
  • Have supervision provided by a nurse
  • Have ongoing training and today most importantly
  • Is following proper PPE requirements.

So in these trying times, let’s all try to have an ‘attitude of gratitude’ for both the family caregivers and the privately paid caregivers- who themselves may also be struggling.

About Audrey Miller
About: Audrey Miller, Managing Director of Elder Caring Inc. has over 30 years social work and rehabilitation experience working with older individuals and their families. She advises the financial, insurance, legal and business communities regarding elder care issues. Audrey is a recognized expert in her field. Email: amiller@eldercaring.ca

0 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.