Time Management for Caregivers
While there isn’t a way to create more time in a day, there are methods that can help you get the most out of every minute.
Time is the one thing that everyone wishes they had more of, and this is particularly true of caregivers. After all, you are probably already juggling caring for your spouse, your family, your job, and a host of other commitments. Suddenly you become a caregiver, and that time burden quickly mushrooms.
A study conducted by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP found that caregivers of older adults provide more than 22 hours of care each week, and more than half of these caregivers were also working full-time at the same time. And more than two third of caregivers have no paid help in their caregiving efforts. .
While there isn’t a way to create more time in the day, there are methods that can help you get the most out of every minute.
Here are some strategies to help manage time effectively and free up time for yourself:
Make a List and Continually Prioritize: Creating a list of tasks that need to be accomplished can be a calming way to approach your day. Seeing all the things you need to do written down in front of you, rather than just flying around as thoughts inside your mind, vying for your attention, can give even the busiest of caregivers a sense of control. More importantly, you may realize that some tasks can be pushed to another day, for example, or be outsourced to someone else. Prioritizing can also help you focus on the things that matter most to you and your loved one, and provide you comfort that these most important things will get done, first. .
Create a Schedule: Making a calendar that details regularly occurring events, such as doctors appointments, sessions with friends, and cleaning, can help you avoid double-booking events and scrambling from task to task. It is far more calming to manage your day when you know what to expect, and much easier to adapt when the unexpected inevitably occurs, as you can see right away which tasks you need to reschedule.
Make sure you build time into your schedule for you and your loved one to “transition” from one event to another.
Once the regularly scheduled events are on the calendar, create specific “appointments'' in the calendar for achieving your most important tasks for the day. Deliberately scheduling tasks in a calendar, and scheduling enough time to get them accomplished, prevents you from simply jumping from task to task on a long list, which can feel overwhelming.
Make you also include time for your own self-care and for taking breaks.
Decide, Do, or Delegate:
Decide: First, decide whether this task really needs to be done, or whether it can wait for another time, and who needs to do it.
Do: Is this a task you can or should do? If a task needs to be done by you then you need to find the best way to ensure you can get it done. If it can be done in just a few minutes, such as calling an office to make an appointment, you can add to your schedule and keep it on your “to do” list for things you can do if you get a short window of time free.
Delegate: If a task is something that it is possible to ask a friend or family member to help with, don’t hesitate to recruit them to help do it! Often your friends and family do want to help, but simply don’t know what is needed. You can “help them help you” by reaching out to them for help with specific tasks that need to be done such as housecleaning, shopping, or just spending time with your loved one while you take a break.
Get Professional Help: If it is within your budget, consider hiring in-home health services, taking your loved one to an adult day center, or hiring respite care, which can provide you some temporary relief from caregiving. Or you could hire professional services to help with other tasks such as housecleaning, yard maintenance, or other time-consuming projects that will free up your schedule. If you need help and have limited resources available, please ask your NAN Navigator for assistance in finding other options. You may also contact the Elder Helpline to get connected with your local Area Agency on Aging, at 1-800-963-5337.
Lean Into Technology: If you are comfortable using technology, there are many computer tools and apps that can help with everything from giving reminders to take medication, keeping your calendar, organizing your friends and family to help, and other tasks. There are also technological tools that can deliver meals from local restaurants, shop for and deliver groceries, and deliver household supplies. Technology can also be used to provide games, music and entertainment for your loved one to stay engaged, which can also free up time for you.
Stay Organized: Keep important documents, medical records, and other necessary items in a designated, organized space. This can save you time spent searching for things when they are needed. If you haven't completed your NAN Caregiver's Plan B, or don’t know what that a “Plan B” is, ask your NAN Navigator to help you get started on completing this valuable document. When finished you and anyone you allow will have easy access to all the key information you need for your loved one's care support.
Explore Flexible Work Arrangements: If you are working at a job, trying talking to your employer about having a flexible work schedule that allows you to tailor your work schedule around other important caregiving tasks. Employers may offer “flextime”, the ability too work from home on some days, or taking leave when necessary.
Join a Support Group: Besides the important emotional connection that joining a caregiver support group can bring, getting to know other caregivers in situations that are similar to your can provide practical tips, local advice, and other resources that may save you time and effort.
Do a Reality Check: It is important to set realistic expectations for what you can do for yourself and your loved one in a single day, week, or month. You cannot do everything, despite your best efforts, and you cannot expect your loved one to be the same person they were before they were diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Things have changed and you need to adapt.
Give Yourself A Break: Despite a long to-do list and a packed calendar schedule, you absolutely need to make sure you take breaks throughout the day, even if it is just for a few minutes. This will help you to stay refreshed, focused, and calm. Taking breaks and ensuring that you have time for activities that you enjoy is not a luxury, but a necessity, as taking care of yourself will make you a better caregiver in the long run.
There is no way to make the clock run more slowly, or to add hours to the day, but if you focus on the most important tasks, leverage your friends, family, and technology, and make sure you find time for your self-care, you will be better able to manage your time and be a better caregiver for your loved one.
And remember, you NAN Navigator is your trusty companion on this journey, and can help you make the most of your time management.
