Becoming a caregiver can sneak up on you. One day you may be visiting family during the holidays and it hits you: your parent (or sibling, aunt or grandparent) needs more help than you had thought. What do you do next?

The beginning of caregiving can be chaotic and overwhelming. These nine tips will help you as you start your caregiving experience and give you the tools to maintain your sanity while also being the best advocate for your loved one.

Take hold of your new journey with these 9 essential tips.

1. Say Goodbye to Self-Doubt and Guilt.

   It is so easy to think you should have stepped in sooner. Feeling guilty about not stepping in sooner does not do anyone any good. You stepped in when you did and that is what counts!
   
   

2. Create a Care Summary.

   One of the first things to do as a caregiver is to create a Care Summary. This document will save so much time and reduce your stress level! Gather all the medical information of your loved one (contact info for doctors, specialists, pharmacies) and put it in one document. Add health insurance information, current medications (including dosage and administration times), and emergency contacts. This document is essential and will save you time when making appointments but especially important during an emergency situation. Handing a one page Care Summary to emergency personnel will save you time hunting for information during a stressful situation.
   
   

3. Get Documents in Order.

   As soon as you start caring for your loved one get a Durable Power of Attorney in place. This will allow you to discuss the health of your loved one with their doctors and when they are in the hospital or in a facility. There are different documents for finances, health and living arrangements. Ideally, having the Durable Power of Attorney in place for all three gives you the peace of mind that you are following the wishes of your loved one. Include an Advance Directive when setting up the documents so there is no guessing about the end-of-life wishes of your loved one.
   
   

4. Take Vitals Daily.

   Most people don’t think about taking vitals until their loved one is ill. This is exactly why vitals should be taken from the start. Having a baseline of blood pressure, pulse rate, oxygen level and temperature will give you invaluable information to share with the doctor when your loved one does become ill.
   
   

5. Prepare a Go Bag.

   Create a “go bag” to have on hand in the event of an emergency. This can include a bottle of water, non-perishable snacks (emergency room visits can be long!), a sweater, extra briefs for your loved one, hand sanitizer, a phone charger (bonus tip: pack an extra long cord) and a copy of the Care Summary and Durable Power of Attorney.
   
   

6. Create a List of Necessary Supplies and Equipment.

   Medical supplies and equipment seem to multiply like rabbits when caregiving! Keep a list of what you need now and what you may need in the future and find vendors who provide quality products as well as superior customer service. (On a personal note, I found Northshore Care Supply many years ago and have stayed with them for my brother’s incontinent supplies for a dozen years so far. They have quality products and their customer service has helped even when it was a delivery company problem!).
   
   

7. Enlist Help.

   Finding help is not easy so it is best to start early. Maybe find someone who can be a companion to your loved one while you run errands. As care needs increase, it may be necessary to find nursing care for your loved one. Post online, consider using an agency and certainly ask friends and family to help. Having the option of a Day Program is also super helpful, particularly if you are working while also providing care to your loved one. Create your circle of people who can assist even before needing them so you are not scrambling when it has become an urgent need. Things change quickly when caregiving so preparation is key.
   
   

8. Organize Your Support System.

   We all need to know others care about us but it is difficult to maintain friendships when in the throes of caregiving. Do what you can to maintain those relationships by texting, calling, or Facetiming if meeting someone out is no longer an option. Make new friends by joining online caregiving support groups. There are many options available and you will find others in a similar situation as you.
   
   

9. Create Your Own Space.

   Whether your loved one lives in your home or you care for them in their home, you need your own space for your peace of mind. Find a room or a corner that can be your go-to space. This can be a space for you to read or do artwork or even a puzzle. Add a favorite scented candle and some photos that make your heart happy so even if you only have a minute or two you can glance over, take a deep breath and feel some peace.

Diving into caregiving is like learning to swim by jumping into the deep end of the pool. Using these tips will save time and energy as well as get you organized and well on your way to being a terrific advocate and caregiver for your loved one. You got this!

Caregiving with Trish: Practical Tips from the Field

Trish Hughes Kreis is a co-author of the 365 Caregiving Tips: Practical Tips from Everyday Caregivers book series (found on Amazon & Lulu.com) and works as a full-time Legal Administrator. She is also a freelance writer and videographer and advocate for her disabled youngest brother, Robert. Robert lives with intractable epilepsy but has an unwavering faith and a delightful way of declaring everything excellent. Robert lived with Trish and her husband, Richard, for several years where they did their best to keep him happy, healthy, and, of course, excellent (and with a never-ending supply of chocolate ice cream). Robert now lives in a Skilled Nursing Facility where Trish and Richard continue to advocate to keep his life excellent. Please connect with Trish through social media (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and Threads).