Like LED lightbulbs, humans can also use energy more efficiently and still power their purpose - even last longer.
Energy Conservation
These energy-saving techniques can help your loved one use their energy wisely to reduce tiredness and maintain their independence. The more your loved one can do for themselves, the more self-esteem they will have, less depression, and in turn, reduce your worries and workload.
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Meals:
Dressing:
Toileting and hygiene:
Outside support:
ASK FOR HELP. Divide and conquer task lists with family, friends, and neighbors. Create social gatherings around jobs that need to be done (summer pitch-ins, holiday decorating). This will also help prevent your isolation and exhaustion as a caregiver.
Go to appointments and talk with your loved one's primary care provider and pulmonologist directly. Communicate subtle changes in activity level, sleep, appetite, toileting, and mentation (how they're thinking and engaging). Also communicate changes in general demeanor (such as irritability) and physical well-being (experiencing lightheadedness or muscle cramping).
Discuss with their provider the benefits of home health care. Occupational Therapy can help with energy conservation techniques and adaptation recommendations. Physical Therapy can help with increasing strength and endurance, as well as improving balance. Speech therapy can help strengthen throat and chest muscles and improve lung capacity.
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Remind your loved one that it’s okay to be short of breath. Sometimes, they may need encouragement to accept their current situation and make adjustments. Focus on controlling breathing and taking slow, deep breaths - especially when they start feeling anxious (as anxiety begets more shortness of breath, which causes more anxiety). Remind them that breathing gets easier as anxiety improves. You may want to breathe with them to demonstrate the breaths and help them feel at ease.
Move slowly during tasks that take a lot of effort and build in short rest periods. Assure your loved one that you are willing to wait for them to do things, even when it would take you half the time to just do it yourself. This assurance increases their feelings of independence and control, which is very important to you both. Avoid unnecessary tasks. Help them identify where they can cut some activities so they have more energy for the ones they enjoy most.
Plan activities so they can rest before and after them, as needed, especially while away from the home. Plan for extended periods of rest at least once a day, though encourage them not to nap during that time, as it affects nightly sleep. They can rest without napping by having something easy to do such as reading, puzzles, or folding clothes. If their feet or ankles are swollen, put their feet up during rest.
Helpful is an app to make caregiving easier. We integrate your loved one’s insurance benefits, medical records and caregiving guides into an immediate, accessible and user-friendly experience. Helpful supports your care needs by eliminating administrative tasks and providing technology to support your caregiving experience.
When you sign up with Helpful, our guides will equip you with caregiving content, tips, and checklists that assist with caring for your loved one.
