Getting Coordinated, No Yoga Required
Family caregivers are amazing! You, yes you, are amazing! According to the Alzheimer’s Association,
“In 2023, 11.5 million family and other caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias provided an estimated 18.4 billion hours of unpaid help. On average, this represents nearly 31 hours of care per caregiver per week or 1,612 hours per caregiver per year.”
Up to 70% of the people they surveyed said that coordinating care was one of the most difficult things they have to do in caring for their loved one with dementia. In that spirit, here are a few practical strategies for family caregivers to ease the burden of care coordination:
1. Organizational Strategies:
Create a centralized care notebook/binder with all medical information
Use digital calendar systems shared with family members
Keep medication lists and schedules updated
Maintain emergency contact information in one place
2. Technology Solutions:
Use caregiving apps for scheduling and tracking
Set up medication reminder systems
Utilize shared digital calendars
Consider medical alert systems
3. Support Network Development:
Delegate specific tasks to family members
Join caregiver support groups
Connect with local senior services
Build relationships with healthcare providers
4. Professional Help:
Consider hiring a care manager
Use respite care services
Consult with social workers
Engage home health services when needed
5. Self-Care Practices:
Schedule regular breaks
Accept help when offered
Set realistic boundaries
Maintain your own medical appointments
6. Communication Tools:
Hold regular family meetings
Use group messaging apps
Create care schedules with clear responsibilities
Document important decisions
Reducing coordination stress often starts with accepting that you can't do everything alone and creating systems that work for your specific situation.
