How To Promote Independence In the person you’re caring for

As a caregiver, your instinct is to give the person you’re caring for as much help as you can. But did you know that it’s possible to help them too much? Giving someone more support than they need can cause them to become dependent and reduce their ability to care for themselves.

In this video, we’ll explore why independence matters, and give you a few tips on how you can encourage the person you’re caring for to be more independent in their daily life.

When you spend a lot of time taking care of someone, you can get into the habit of doing things for them rather than with them. Maybe you think you’re making it easier on them, or you believe you’ll get everything done faster if you do it yourself.

But you might be surprised by how much the person you’re caring for is capable of doing on their own. Allowing them to be independent is good for both of you; they’ll feel like they have more control over their life, and you’ll have a few less tasks to worry about.

A good place to start is by thinking about all the different ways the person you’re caring for can be involved in your daily caregiving routine. Some examples include brushing their hair, folding their laundry, getting a glass of water, or answering the phone.

After you’ve come up with a few things they can handle on their own, sit down with them and discuss it. Make it clear that you want them to be as independent as possible, and that you’ll be there to help if they need it. Try to set realistic goals that the two of you can work on together.

Once your new routine is underway, make sure to celebrate their accomplishments. Be impressed when they show independence, and let them know that they’re doing a good job. Giving positive feedback will go a long way.

It’s important to know that you don’t need to figure this all out on your own. There are healthcare professionals whose whole job is to help the person you’re caring for be more independent. A physiotherapist can give them training to improve their motor skills, balance, and coordination, while an occupational therapist will help them work on self-care and everyday tasks. If the person you’re caring for doesn’t already have one of these professionals, contact your local government health care access centre and request an in-home assessment.

You should take every opportunity to give the person you’re caring for more personal freedom, no matter how small it may be.

For example, rather than asking them what they’d like to watch on TV, give them the remote control and allow them to find something on their own.

Anything you can do to shift your caregiving role from one of control to one of support is a good thing.

By promoting independence, you’ll help to increase both the confidence and the happiness of the person you’re caring for. Although some things may take a bit longer than if you were doing them, it will be worth the wait

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