Balancing Your Life and Your Loved Ones

Balancing the responsibilities of work, finances, family life, and caring for an aging loved one can leave many caregivers feeling stressed and in need of support. It is no secret that finding balance in one’s life can be difficult if you are coordinating care for a loved one.

Driving to doctor’s appointments, filling prescriptions, planning and preparing meals, and assisting with household chores are only some of the many items on any caregiver’s to-do list.

If managing your loved one’s care has set your life a bit out of balance, you are in good company! Many caregivers are finding themselves “sandwiched” in the exact same position. Perhaps now is the time to consider an assisted living community for your loved one?

If you or your loved one is thinking about making a move to an assisted living community, our free new resource, "The ABC's of Assisted Living," provides a closer look at everyday life in our UMH assisted living communities. Offering thoughts and opinions on senior living topics from A to Z, this guide shares some valuable tips, information, and encouragement for caregivers who are searching for the right assisted living community for their loved one. Learn more about how an assisted living community can provide the support you need as a caregiver…..and restore a sense of balance to your life.

Here is a short excerpt from the e-book written by a member of our UMH team:

B is for Balance

Becoming an older adult in this day and age is a far cry from what our parents and grandparents experienced as they aged.

The majority of seniors today are blessed with better health and outstanding resources to support the maintenance of good health. Friends are living longer which helps extend an active social life, and seniors and their children are well educated on the myriad of health care options, which also fosters an enhanced quality of life for both the senior and their family members.

Residents and family members who choose assisted living as a preferred living environment often express that this option supports sought after balance in the lives of the entire family unit. Residents exclaim that without realizing it they are physically moving more throughout the day-walking farther and gaining strength without calling it that often-dreaded word: “exercise”. Better nutrition with regularly prepared and healthful meals promotes health and feelings of well-being, while chasing away gloomy thoughts.

Staff take over the details of managing medications, hygiene assistance, and scheduling physician appointments, monitoring both health and safety for the resident. Family members and friends then notice that visits together are happier and more relaxed, as the stress of concerns about the senior’s safety and health are lightened with this monitoring now done by staff. Residents’ guilt in burdening their children with health care concerns, doctor’s appointments and worries about safety is greatly relieved.

Family members can enjoy reduced stress in their marriage, in caring for their children and in managing their job knowing that their parent is in a UMH community where their health and welfare is monitored. The assisted living lifestyle allows both the senior and their family the ability to concentrate on quality time together, promoting a balance in relationships between seniors and their loved ones.

About the Author

Lee Waskow, RN is the Director of Health Services for Crosby Commons & Wesley Heights Assisted Living Communities in Shelton, CT. Lee’s career spans 30+ years specializing in health care management for older adults in the capacities of director of nursing in both skilled nursing facilities, dementia and assisted living communities, and as a nurse consultant for the State of CT (conducting regulatory surveys in long term care facilities throughout the state). Lee’s focus continues to be on assisting seniors and their families stretch and reach every day to obtain and maintain the highest level of independence, mobility, health and memory agility possible.

We invite you to download the rest of this free resource to use it as a guide to assisted living. It contains many points to consider and reflect on, regardless of where you are in your search for senior living options.