Navigating Caregiving
Many of our clients feel obligated to take on caregiving duties for elderly parents; however, the demands of caregiving can quickly lead to burnout and strain relationships. Just as you would place trust in your wealth advisor to take care of your finances, a professional caregiver can give you peace of mind that your loved one's daily needs, health, and well-being are being expertly managed.
The Challenges
Family caregivers, especially women, may struggle to balance caregiving with other responsibilities. The time commitment required can limit social activities and personal time, leading to feelings of isolation and can exacerbate existing family dynamics and strain relationships.
Considering Professional Caregivers
Despite initial reluctance, hiring a professional caregiver can provide much-needed support for the caregiver and the loved one. With expertise and consistency, these caregivers ensure quality care while allowing family members to prioritize their well-being. Once, a client mentioned to us that her husband slept for only four hours a night. From her perspective, this was normal, preventing her from recognizing the need for outside assistance. We helped coordinate a sleep evaluation for him. Both professional caregivers and healthcare advisors are unbiased and the distance from the relationship allows us to take an objective view of the situation.
Finding Reliable Care
When seeking a professional caregiver, it's essential to vet candidates carefully to ensure they meet the needs of the loved one. Engaging the services of a healthcare advisor can streamline the process and ensure continuity of care. They can help with every aspect of your loved one’s care, including:
Determining when it’s time to hire a caregiver and if that is the best option for your family
Overseeing the caregiver’s work to be sure all needs are met
Relaying key medical information from the caregiver to the rest of the medical team
Managing external doctor’s appointments
Creating an escalation plan in case your loved one needs emergency care
Arranging for more support as their care needs change
Knowing signs to look out for when more or other help is needed
Additionally, some caregivers have teams who can look at clients holistically, bringing in doctors, specialists and health insurance experts as needed
If you have questions about caring for an aging loved one or want support navigating other aspects of the healthcare system, reach out and let us know.
Wellworth helps individuals and families make smarter healthcare choices to mitigate risk. With nearly 100 years of combined patient care experience, our multidisciplinary team provides top-tier guidance and support, covering physical and behavioral health, addiction treatment, and health insurance.
We offer consultative and advisory services in 50-hour retainers for family offices and 12-hour retainers for individuals and families. To learn more, contact us at insights@wellworthadvisors.com or (646) 883-9717.